[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 22 (Friday, February 11, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E207-E208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WAYNE PISANO CONGRESSIONAL REMARKS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 11, 2011

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Wayne Pisano, 
Sanofi Pasteur President and CEO, for his service to the vaccine 
industry and Pennsylvania upon his retirement from the company.
  A St. John Fisher College biology undergraduate and MBA graduate of 
the University of Dayton, Ohio, Wayne combines a deep understanding of 
science as the key to human health, while employing a perceptive 
knowledge of business strategy and growth through meeting critical 
public health needs. Wayne has consistently demonstrated a keen ability 
to understand the movement of the vaccine market and work proactively 
to position Sanofi Pasteur as both a leader in vaccine production and a 
role model for partnerships and foresight within the industry.

[[Page E208]]

  Upon joining Sanofi Pasteur as Vice President, U.S. Marketing in 
1997, Wayne quickly established a unique role for Marketing in a 
historically industrial- and commodity-driven organization. In his 
Marketing leadership role, he revised the business plan process and 
introduced product branding, positioning and the concept of core-brand 
selling arguments, driving significant net sales growth through 
innovative thinking. As the head of the more than 480-member team, 
Wayne created a multi-disciplinary team approach within the Marketing 
and Sales organization, achieving high-level, unprecedented 
collaboration across the group.
  Next, as Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Wayne 
collaborated with the Canadian business unit president to develop 
Canada's first long-term growth strategy, resulting in full 
restructuring of the marketing and sales group. As Wayne facilitated 
the transition of the U.S. operations to the new U.S. business unit 
head, the company continued to exceed budget, experiencing double-digit 
growth and breaking the $1 billion revenue milestone for the first time 
in 2003.
  Within the vaccine industry, Wayne played a key leadership role when 
routinely administered vaccines were in short supply. In 2002, Wayne 
presented on behalf of PhARMA to a congressional hearing on fragility 
of vaccine supply. Backed by a U.S. General Accounting Office report, 
Wayne eloquently presented the facts regarding the complicated nature 
of vaccine manufacturing and the economic challenges of vaccine 
manufacturers, resulting in changes to the national policy on Vaccine 
Injury Compensation.
  In 2003, Wayne stepped into the role of Sr. Vice President, Global 
Commercial Operations, in which he put his talents once again to the 
company's long-term growth, assuming responsibility for the Strategic 
Planning function and developing the company's first 10-year strategic 
plan. In this role, he introduced the franchise concept and implemented 
the portfolio design to drive the growth strategy. Wayne led the 
formation of global Commercial Operations, integrating the U.S., 
Canadian and International business units; Medical Affairs; Pricing & 
Health Economics; Franchise Management; New Product Marketing and 
Demand Management groups. In doing so, Wayne moved the Commercial 
Operations organization of more than 2,000 associates into a cohesive 
and collaborative team focused on achieving overall corporate goals. 
For the first time in company history, the organization exceeded 2 
billion Euros in sales, with all business units achieving double-digit 
growth.
  Understanding the growing importance of the influenza franchise, 
Wayne drove the development of the long-term global strategy for 
influenza, resulting in the elevation of several projects within the 
R&D portfolio and the decision to invest more than 200 million Euros in 
new and expanded manufacturing facilities. This investment included the 
production of a second influenza production facility at Sanofi 
Pasteur's Swiftwater, Pennsylvania campus, which remains the largest 
influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in the world. Additionally, he 
drove the global licensing strategy for Fluzone and Vaxigrip influenza 
vaccines, making them interchangeable in some markets.
  Wayne advocated and implemented a comprehensive global formulation, 
filling and packaging strategy to ensure early and timely delivery of 
influenza vaccine and, years before the onset of the 2009 influenza 
pandemic, established the Pandemic Planning function placing it at a 
high level of importance for imminent public health needs. Still 
looking to the future, Wayne has paved the way for new influenza 
products to meet unique patient immunization needs, including Sanofi 
Pasteur's Fluzone High-Dose for those 65 years and older and the 
upcoming intradermal vaccine technology targeting young adults.
  Three years ago, Wayne brought his strategic expertise to the role of 
Sanofi Pasteur President and CEO. Soon afterward, he began replenishing 
the pipeline through project in-licensing and acquisitions. By the end 
of 2008, the company, under Wayne's leadership, acquired and fully 
integrated biotech firm Acambis, adding several phase-II projects--C. 
difficile and Dengue (Acambis) and Mabs Rabies (Crucell)--and important 
pre-clinical projects (e.g., pseudomonas aeruginosa Mabs, Intra-dermal 
influenza, HPV) into the pipeline. That year, he also implemented a 
pre-emptive effectiveness and efficiency program focused on shifting 
resources into critical activities to secure the company's long-term 
growth.
  In 2009, Wayne further strengthened the company's critical emerging 
markets position through the acquisition of India's Shantha Biotechnics 
to provide a high-tech platform of affordable vaccines and a robust 
pipeline. His leadership saw the expansion of global industrial 
operations with new vaccine manufacturing facilities in Shenzen 
(China), Ocoyoacac (Mexico), and solid partnerships across all 
continents, including Brazil, Russia, Japan, Turkey, Thailand and 
Algeria. His committed global focus has led to significant steps 
forward in addressing the gap between developed nations and countries 
with vast and dire unmet medical needs, setting Sanofi Pasteur apart as 
a leader truly dedicated to its Vision of preventing suffering or death 
from any vaccine-preventable disease.
  At the end of February 2011, after 14 years of service, Wayne Pisano 
will retire as the chairman and CEO of Sanofi Pasteur. I commend Mr. 
Pisano for his distinguished career and leadership in the advancement 
of immunizations and the eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases.

                          ____________________