Perlmutter steps down as Merck R&D lead as early research chief Li steps in

After seven years running Merck’s R&D engine, much of which has revolved around cancer blockbuster Keytruda and, now, COVID-19 vaccines, Roger Perlmutter, M.D., Ph.D., is hitting the exit.

His last day will be Jan. 1, leaving after rejoining the Big Pharma back in 2013 and now with 100 regulatory approvals for drugs and vaccines under his belt. He will be replaced by Dean Li, M.D., Ph.D., currently senior vice president of discovery sciences and translational medicine at Merck Research Labs (MRL).