Serono
Serono SA (formerly Ares-Serono AG ) was the third largest biotechnology company in the world, based in Geneva , Switzerland . It was founded in Italy in 1906.
The company was a leader in reproductive medicine , with a market share of approximately 60 percent. Other corporate divisions were dermatology , autoimmune diseases , neurology ( multiple sclerosis ) and endocrinology ( growth hormones ). CEO and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors was Ernesto Bertarelli .
On September 21, 2006 it was announced that the company would be sold to the German Merck KGaA for around 16 billion Swiss francs (approx. 10 billion euros) . Since January 5, 2007, Merck has held the majority in Serono. This was combined with the Pharma Ethicals division of Merck KGaA to form the new pharmaceutical division Merck Serono .