Metamark Appoints Cornelius J. Merlini Chief Commercial Officer

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Metamark Genetics, Inc., a leader in the discovery of molecular prognostic and diagnostic tests for cancer, today announced that Cornelius J. Merlini, former general manager of HealthTronics Laboratory Solutions (HLS), has been appointed Metamark's Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.  In August 2013, Metamark acquired HLS, a national uropathology laboratory, from Endo Health Solutions, Inc.  Mr. Merlini will report to Metamark President and Chief Executive Officer, Shawn M. Marcell, and will join the company's senior leadership team.

"We are pleased that Cornelius has joined Metamark.  His exceptional leadership, commercial acumen, and track record bringing paradigm-changing products to market have produced transformational business growth," said Mr. Marcell.  "Cornelius already is an established leader of Metamark's newly-acquired uropathology business, where he assembled a talented, dedicated team – including a specialized national field sales force.  This commercial team nicely complements Metamark's innovative research and development efforts, and will accelerate the launch of ProMark™, our novel prostate cancer prognostic test."

"Metamark's strong science engine fits perfectly with its new commercial and operational machine," said Mr. Merlini.  "ProMark™ could redefine the management of early stage prostate cancer and become a standard test sought by patients and ordered by urologists when making well-informed treatment decisions.  It is exciting to join a company that could change the way prostate cancer is treated." 

Mr. Merlini has over twenty-five years of life science experience across a wide array of functions and businesses.  Prior to HealthTronics Lab Solutions, Mr. Merlini was SVP, Commercial Operations at Cord Blood Registry, a market leader in cord blood stem cell banking.  He spent ten years with increasing marketing, management and franchise leadership responsibilities at Johnson & Johnson, where he served most recently as Worldwide Vice-President of the cardiovascular franchise for Johnson & Johnson's biopharmaceutical business.  Earlier, Mr. Merlini gained successful sales and sales leadership experience with Marion Laboratories (now Sanofi-Aventis). 

About Metamark

Metamark Genetics, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company founded in 2007 to develop novel, function-based prognostic and diagnostic tests aimed at improving cancer care.  The company's proprietary genomic and proteomic discovery platforms have yielded significant discoveries in several disease areas, including prostate, colon and breast cancers.  In early 2014, Metamark plans to commercialize ProMark™ – its prostate cancer prognostic test – through its Cambridge, Massachusetts CLIA-certified laboratory.  For more information, please visit the company's Website at www.metamarkgenetics.com.  Metamark™ and ProMark™ are trademarks of Metamark Genetics, Inc.

SOURCE Metamark Genetics, Inc.