Merz CEO Focused on Advancing the Company

William “Bill” Humphries, newly appointed CEO of Merz, Inc., has been setting the record straight. For example, addressing a recent injunction that bars the marketing of Xeomin for aesthetic indications, he insists, “the impact of the injunction isn't dramatic.” As a private company with more than 100 years in business, Merz didn't face any potential stock devaluation with the recent litigation. While Xeomin for aesthetic indications is expected to be a superstar in Merz's portfolio, multiple successful agents continue to do well, Mr. Humphries points out. These include Radiesse, Asclera, Mederma, Naftin, and Xeomin therapeutic. Merz isn't 10 months from bankruptcy, either. Although some reports quoted Merz representatives as saying the injunction would essentially shutter the business in less than a year, Mr. Humphries says certain comments were repeated out of context. During a hearing, a lawyer for Merz attempted to underscore the potential severe impact of harsh penalties against the company by suggesting a detrimental blow to the company's financials, but that was a worst case scenario and not reflective of the current situation, Mr. Humphries assures. There is no grand animosity between the toxin marketers. Of his former colleagues at Allergan, Mr. Humphries characterizes recent interactions as, “very collegial…We've moved past it.” Mr. Humphries was appointed CEO of Merz, Inc., the US subsidiary of the privately-held German-based Merz Pharma Group, in March. He assumed overall responsibility for the Medical Dermatology global business unit and will oversee strategic direction and collaboration among three North American companies: Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Merz Aesthetics, Inc. and Merz Pharma Canada, Ltd. Read more in the May edition of Practical Dermatology.