A senior vice-president at Merck (MSD) Research Laboratories has left to join a venture capital investment firm.

Dr Elizabeth Stoner, who was employed by MSD for 22 years, held the position of senior vice-president of global clinical development activities for over 40 countries.

She will join MPM Capital, which is focused solely on healthcare, as an executive partner, it has been announced.

As part of her role at MSD, Dr Stoner oversaw a number of development projects including the Merck/Schering-Plough joint venture for Zetia/Vytorin, as well as the activities of Japanese partner Banyu.

She also led the clinical development of Proscar from its inception and worked as endocrine therapeutic head taking on all responsibilities for steroid and lipid metabolism.

Last week saw MSD announce priority review status for Gardasil in females aged between 27 and 45.

Gardasil is already used for women between the ages of nine and 26 and works to prevent cervical cancer, dysplastic or precancerous lesions.