Along with its dented financials, Novartis last week announced that it would be changing a couple of names at the top of the tree "to expand experience at top management level and to provide fresh impetus" for the company.
Thomas Ebeling will be moving from his former position as CEO of the company's pharmaceuticals division to head up Novartis Consumer Health.
In his new role Ebeling has been tasked with the job of making the division a more significant contributor to the group's healthcare portfolio.
Taking over from Ebeling, who first joined Novartis in 1997, will be Joe Jimenez , former head of the consumer health division.
Jimenez only joined the company six months ago, having previously spent five years as a non executive director of AstraZeneca, and also acting as an advisor for the private equity organisation, Blackstone.
Immunosyn has named its new CEO, with Stephen Ferrone taking over the reins at the US company.
Ferrone will also become president and board member of the firm, bringing experience from nine years at ABN AMRO Asset Management, and recent consultancy work in the financial and biotech industries.
Specialty pharma firm Alpharma has appointed a new VP of investor relations, naming John Howarth as the new incumbent.
Howarth will take over from Kathleen Makrakis , who will remain with the firm for a one year transition period.
Howarth comes to Alpharma most recently from MedPointe Pharmaceuticals where he was VP of public affairs and investor relations, and previously held positions at Kos Pharmaceuticals and Warner-Lambert.
Cegedim Dendrite has landed itself an ex-US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employee to complement its regulatory compliance business.
Margaret 'Peg' O'Rourke retired from the FDA earlier this year after spending her entire career with the agency, where for the last 20 years she was responsible for enforcing the Prescription Drug Marketing Act (PDMA).
She will now take on a senior regulatory consultancy role with Cegedim Dendrite, effective immediately.