MSD elects new board member

Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) has announced the election of a new member to its board of directors.

Harry Jacobson, vice-chancellor for health affairs at Vanderbilt University, is to join the board this week, taking the number of outside directors to 12 on the 13 member-board.

His position will be finalised after he stands for election by the company’s stockholders in April 2008.

Graduating from the University of Illinois, Dr Jacobson joined the Vanderbilt Medical School faculty in 1985 as a professor of medicine following two years of active service in the US Army.

In 1997, he became vice-chancellor for health affairs as well as serving as the chief executive officer of the university’s medical centre.

He is also a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians and the Society of Medical Administrators as well as sitting on the board of directors for the Nashville Health Care Council.

Earlier this month, MSD confirmed that the US Food and Drug Administration’s advisory panel decided against approving the company’s New Drug Application for non-prescription Mevacor (lovastatin) 20mg.