Sandoz Creates Global Biosimilars Unit

Sandoz, a Swiss company that focuses on generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars, is creating a new biosimilar development, manufacturing and supply unit that will be headed by Armin Metzger. Metzger will join Sandoz on April 1, 2026, as President, Biosimilar Development, Manufacturing & Supply and become a member of the Sandoz Executive Committee (SEC).

By consolidating biosimilar development, manufacturing and supply under one SEC leader the company aims to enable clear ownership, fast decision-making and stronger alignment. It also aims to help accelerate full vertical integration of biosimilar development, manufacturing and supply at Sandoz. 

Mr. Metzger joins the company from Ferring Pharmaceuticals, where he has served in senior technological leadership roles since 2016, most recently as Executive Vice President, Chief Technical Operations Officer. Prior to that, he spent nearly 20 years in technological and scientific leadership roles at Merck KGaA and Merck Serono.  

Under the new organizational set-up, Claire D’Abreu-Hayling, currently Chief Scientific Officer, becomes President, Generics Development and Chief Scientific Officer. Glenn Gerecke, currently Chief Manufacturing & Supply Officer, is appointed President, Generics Manufacturing & Supply. Both remain members of the SEC. 

The dedicated generics capabilities aim to enable more tailored approaches and clearer focus on lower-cost, higher-volume business. Generic medicines represented 70% of Sandoz sales globally in 2025 and a higher proportion by volume.

Sandoz CEO Richard Saynor said, “We stand today at the start of an unprecedented ‘golden decade’ for patient access, with medicines worth more than USD 650 billion dollars set to lose exclusivity over the next 10 years. As the global leader in affordable medicines and the pioneer of biosimilars, Sandoz is determined to capture this opportunity and deliver strong, sustainable growth.”