Pfizer announced the planned leadership and organizational structure for its research and commercial operations that will become effective when the Wyeth acquisition closes. The company will establish a research model designed to “advance the scientific capabilities of both Pfizer and Wyeth and to support the new company’s nine health care businesses,” according to a company statement. At the senior-most level of the organization, Pfizer will retain eight senior executives from Wyeth.

Pfizer will form two distinct research organizations for biopharmaceutical research. The PharmaTherapeutics Research Group will focus on the discovery of small molecules and related modalities and will be led by Martin Mackay, who currently leads Pfizer Global Research & Development (PGRD). The BioTherapeutics Research Group will focus on large-molecule research, including vaccines, and will be led by Mikael Dolsten, who currently serves as president of Wyeth Research. Both Dr. Dolsten and Dr. Mackay will serve as presidents and members of Pfizer’s executive leadership team, reporting to Pfizer chairman and chief executive officer Jeff Kindler.

The BioTherapeutics Research Group will leverage Wyeth’s biologics expertise and build on Pfizer’s Biotherapeutics and Bioinnovation Center (BBC) and centers of large-molecule research and PGRD, creating a new, larger group. This new group will focus on vaccines, antibodies, proteins, peptides, nucleic acids and other novel modalities. Within these two research groups, chief scientific officers will lead small, focused scientific teams. Emilio Emini, who currently heads Wyeth’s Vaccine R&D, will join Pfizer as chief scientific officer, Vaccine Research, and Menelas Pangalos, who currently serves as Wyeth’s head of Discovery, will join Pfizer as chief scientific officer, Neuroscience Research. According to the company, these teams will also pursue collaborations with academic, public sector and private sector institutions to accelerate R&D.

“Creating two distinct, but complementary, research organizations, led by the top scientist from each company, will provide sharper focus, less bureaucracy and clearer accountability in drug discovery,” Mr. Kindler said. “This structure powerfully states our commitment to becoming the industry leader in small molecules, large molecules and vaccines. Our approach to research will fuel our discovery efforts, inspire top talent and translate into high-impact new medicines for patients. I am honored that world-class scientists like Drs. Dolsten, Emini and Pangalos will be joining the outstanding scientists at Pfizer and, as we continue our integration planning, I look forward to our welcoming many more distinguished Wyeth scientists to our organization.”

Pfizer will consist of nine global health care businesses. Ian Read, currently president of Worldwide Pharmaceutical Operations for Pfizer, will become group president, Pfizer BioPharmaceutical Businesses. He will lead a group that includes five biopharmaceutical businesses: Primary Care, led by president Olivier Brandicourt; Specialty Care and Vaccines, led by president Geno Germano; Jim Connolly will join the Specialty Care and Vaccines Business Unit as president of Vaccines; Emerging Markets will continue to be led by president Jean-Michel Halfon; Oncology will continue to be led by president Garry Nicholson; Established Products will continue to be led by president David Simmons. Cavan Redmond will become group president, Pfizer Diversified Businesses. This group will include four businesses: Animal Health, led by president Juan-Ramón Alaix; Capsugel, led by president Guido Driesen; Consumer Health, led by president Paul Sturman; and Nutritional Health, led by president Erica Mann.

The leadership team will begin working together immediately upon the completion of the acquisition, which is expected to close at the end of 3Q09 or during 4Q09.