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WHITEHOUSE STATION — Merck & Co.'s head of vaccines, Margaret G. McGlynn, is retiring effective Nov. 1, the drugmaker said Monday.
McGlynn, 49, has been president of Merck's vaccines division since 2005 and, more recently, Merck Vaccines and Infectious Diseases. Previously, she served as head of U.S. Human Health, the company's marketing operation.
"She decided that now was a good time to pursue many personal and professional aspirations," Merck spokeswoman Amy Rose said.
Rose said no replacement has been named yet for McGlynn, who joined the company 26 years ago.
McGlynn helped oversee a surge in new vaccine approvals the last few years that made the division increasingly important financially to Merck. Those included the blockbuster Gardasil, the first vaccine to prevent cervical and other sexually transmitted cancers, and RotaTeq for rotavirus. Merck's HIV drug Isentress also was approved during her tenure.
However, the division has been plagued by manufacturing deficiencies cited by the Food and Drug Administration, some dating back to spring 2007, that have reduced sales significantly.
Vaccines against Haemophilus influenza type B, shingles and a combination one against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox called ProQuad either were recalled or production was halted for long stretches. Zostavax, the shingles vaccine, just resumed normal shipments in June, and ProQuad is still not available, although Merck settles other vaccines that separately protect against the four childhood illnesses, Merck noted in a regulatory filing Monday.
Until November, McGlynn will continue to lead the business and keep her other leadership positions, the company said. That includes helping plan for Merck's $41.1 billion acquisition of partner drugmaker Schering-Plough Corp. of Kenilworth, N.J.
