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Kenneth Carleton Frazier (born (1954-12-17)December 17, 1954) is an American business executive. He is the Chairman and CEO of the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. After joining Merck as general counsel, he directed the company's defense against litigation over the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx. Frazier is the first African-American to lead a major pharmaceutical company.

Kenneth Frazier was born on December 17, 1954, in North Philadelphia. ^[1] His father, Otis, was a janitor. ^{[2] [1]} Frazier has said Thurgood Marshall was one of his heroes growing up. ^[3] Frazier's mother died when he was twelve years old. ^[1] He attended Northeastern High School. After graduating at age 16, he entered Pennsylvania State University. ^[3] To make extra money in college, he raised tadpoles and newts and sold them to local stores. ^[4]

After earning his B.A. from Penn State, Frazier enrolled at Harvard University to study law. ^[5] He graduated in 1978 with a J.D. ^{[2] [5]}

Drinker Biddle

After graduating from Harvard, Frazier started his law career at Drinker Biddle & Reath in Philadelphia. ^[3] In 1991, Esther Lardent, head of the Death Penalty Representation Project, asked Frazier to defend death row inmate James Willie “Bo” Cochran. ^[1] Cochran had been arrested and accused of murdering an assistant manager at a Birmingham grocery store in 1976. ^[6] Frazier, then a partner at Drinker Biddle, and two colleagues took the case. ^[4] In 1995, after 19 years on death row, the 11th United States Courts of Appeals overturned Cochran's conviction. In 1997, Cochran was retried and found not guilty. ^[6] Frazier continued to represent him after leaving Drinker Biddle. During Frazier's law career, he also took four summer sabbaticals to teach trial advocacy in South Africa. ^[2]

Merck

As a lawyer at Drinker Biddle, one of Frazier's clients was Merck & Co, the second-largest drug company in the United States. ^{[3] [4]} In 1992, he joined Merck's public affairs division as general counsel. ^{[7] [3]} Frazier was named senior general counsel in 1999. ^[8] As general counsel, he was credited with overseeing the company's defense against claims that the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx had caused heart attacks and strokes. ^{[9] [8] [4]} Analysts at the time estimated Merck's liability to range from 20 to 50 billion dollars. ^[10] Fraizer said the case was “the most significant challenge [he'd] ever faced.” ^[4] He chose to fight each case in court rather than settle them all quickly. ^[7] The remaining cases were settled in 2007 for $4.85 billion. ^[8]

In 2006, Frazier was promoted to executive vice president and general counsel. ^[8] He led the company's largest group, human health from 2007 until he was named president of Merck in April 2010. ^{[11] [3]} On January 1, 2011 he became CEO and a member of the company’s board of directors, replacing former Merck CEO Richard Clark. ^{[12] [3]} Frazier was the first African-American to lead a major pharmaceutical company. ^[1]

As CEO, Frazier has directed the company to take financial risks in developing new treatments. ^[10] In 2013, he prioritized research funding over meeting the year's earnings target. ^[7] He has placed special emphasis on improving treatments for Alzheimer's disease. Frazier's father died from Alzheimer's. Frazier has said he is also motivated at Merck by a desire to improve the lives of people in developing countries. ^[10]

• President in April ^{[3] [12]}
• on January 1, 2011 its CEO. ^[12]
  • Suggested text: On January 1, 2011 he became CEO and a member of the company’s board of directors... Please note: This claim is supported by “ap2012dec01." This was reference #5 in your original notes.
• Succeeded Richard T. Clark as CEO ^{[3] [8]}
  • Suggested text: ...replacing former Merck CEO Richard Clark. He became chairman of the board on December 1, 2011
• Was eligible for $11.25 million compensation in cash and stock in 2011 ^[4]
• Base salary of $1.5 million in 2011 ^{[4] [12]}
  • Suggested text: Merck is the second-largest drug company in the United States. In 2011, Frazier was eligible for $11.25 million in cash and stock and had a base salary of $1.5 million. Please note: This claim is supported by "dd." This is reference #3 in your original notes
• directed Merck to take a financial risk in developing treatments for Alzheimer's ^[10]
• motivated at Merck by a desire to improve the lives of people in developing countries ^[10]
• would "like to see a lot more spending on prenatal care and less at the end of life" ^[10]
• Prioritized research funding over meeting the 2013 earnings target ^[7]

Please note: This introduction is from Mr. Frazier’s current page. The reference supporting the claim that he is the first African American to lead a major pharmaceutical company is from the Harvard Law Review. The citation is below. Please see below. “ha1” is the same as what’s currently listed on his page and supports that he is “the first African-American to lead a major pharmaceutical company. His birth date is supported by “ap2010nov30.” This is reference #5 in your original notes.

• native of North Philadelphia ^{[3] [1]}

  Suggested text: Frazier is a native of North Philadelphia, one of the poorest parts of the city. Please note: This claim is supported by “hepp1." This is reference #1 in your original notes.

• father was a janitor ^{[3] [1]}

  Suggested text: His father, Otis, was a janitor at the United Parcel Service and raised him and his two siblings. Please note: This claim is supported by “hepp1." This is reference #1 in your original notes.

• father’s name was Otis ^[2]

  Please note: We don’t suggest including "chen1" (reference #2 in your original notes). It requires the user to give the outlet access to a LinkedIn profile and is behind a pay wall. We stating his father’s name in the above bullet point and using “hepp1" instead.

  The article is still a valuable source even if it is difficult to access. DPRoberts534 ( talk) 17:03, 10 October 2013 (UTC) reply

• Mother died when he was 12 ^{[4] [1]}

  Suggested text: Frazier’s mother died when he was 12. Please note: This claim is supported by "dd." This reference #3 in your original notes.

• Suggested text: His late father suffered from Alzheimer's disease, which Frazier says inspires him to lead Merck in its development of Alzheimer's medicines. Please note: We would like to keep this, if possible, given Merck’s work in Alzheimer’s and Ken’s personal passion for it. The source is provided in the referenced section below.
• graduate of Northeast High School and Pennsylvania State University ^[3]

  Suggested text: Frazier graduated early, at the age of 16, from Northeastern High School. Please note: This claim is supported by “hepp1." This is reference #1 in your original notes. We would like to keep the “early graduation” statement. Please see the new citation below. Also, we suggest moving his PSU graduation and combining it with the other bullet points you have about selling tadpoles to make money in college.

• entered PSU in 1971 ^[2]

  Please see comments above (father's name was Otis) re: this reference. Please see below for how we combined PSU and Harvard

• earned a law degree from Harvard University ^[3]
• graduated law school in 1978 ^{[2] [1]}

  Please note: We do not see that “hepp1" supports the claim that Mr. Frazier entered PSU in 1971. We suggest noting he graduated from PSU and using "hepp1" to support this. For the claim regarding his law degree, it is supported by “dd.” This is reference #3 in your original notes. Please see below for how we combined PSU, Harvard, and the tadpoles info.

• Thurgood Marshall was one of his heroes growing up ^[3]
• Sold tadpoles and newts to local stores to make money in college ^[4]

  Suggested text: Fraizer has said Thurgood Marshall was one of his heroes growing up. He completed his undergraduate studies at Pennsylvania State University and sold tadpoles and newts to local stores to make money in college. Please note: The claim regarding PSU is supported by "dd," which is reference #3 in your original notes. The claim regarding tadpoles is supported by “hepp1.” This is reference #1 in your original notes. We would suggest moving this above his law school degree to maintain chronological order.

• interested in history ^[8]
• stays active with five-mile runs ^[8]
• father died from Alzheimer's ^[10]
• Frazier and his wife cared for his father in their home ^[10]
• married and has two children ^[4]
  • Suggested text: Frazier is married to Andrea with two children, Lauren and James. Please note: We suggest moving up to the “life” section. The reference here is "dd." Please see the referenced section below
• Earned a B.A. from Penn State ^[5]
• Earned a J.D. from Harvard ^[5]

• joined Drinker Biddle in 1978 ^[2]

  Please note: We suggest not citing the year he joined. Please see comments above (bullet point: graduated law school in 1978)

• partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath ^[3]

  Please see below

• He began his law career at Drinker Biddle & Reath in Philadelphia. ^[4]
  • Suggested text: He began his law career at Drinker Biddle & Reath in Philadelphia and was a partner at the firm. Please note: The claims about both his working for and being a partner at Drinker are supported by "hepp1." This is reference #1 in your original notes.'
• While there, he and two colleagues began working on the case of James Willie “Bo” Cochran, an Alabama man on death row ^[4]
• Frazier and his colleagues represented Cochran on a pro bono basis ^[4]
• Cochran accused of murdering an assistant manager at a Birmingham grocery store ^[6]
• Arrested in November 1976 ^[6]
• 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned his conviction in 1995 ^[6]
• Retried in 1997 and found not guilty ^{[6] [7]}
• Frazier took the case in 1991 ^{[4] [7]}
• Partner when he took the case ^[4]
• Continued to represent Cochran after joining Merck ^[2]
• Took four summer sabbaticals to teach trial avocacy in South Africa while at Drinker Biddle ^[2]
• Represented Merck while at Drinker Biddle ^[3]
  • Suggested text: While there, Frazier and two colleagues began working on the case of James Willie “Bo” Cochran, an Alabama man on death row. In 1976, Cochran was arrested, accused and convicted of murdering an assistant manager at a Birmingham grocery store. Please note: The first sentence is supported by "dd." This reference #3 in your original notes. The second sentence is supported by "rogers1." This is reference #4 in your original notes.
  • Suggested text: Frazier and his colleagues took the case in 1991. Please note: This claim is supported by "dd." This reference #3 in your original notes.
  • Suggested text: In 1995, after 19 years on death row, the 11th United States Courts of Appeals overturned his conviction. In 1997, Cochran was retried and found not guilty. Please note: This claim is supported by "rogers1." This is reference #4 in your original notes.
• Friend Esther Lardent, head of the Death Penalty Representation Project asked him to take the Cochran case ^[1]
• Cochran on death row for about 20 years ^[7]

• Frazier joined Merck in 1992 ^{[11] [12] [7]}
• Started at public affairs division ^[3]
  • Suggested text: Frazier joined Merck in 1992 as vice president, general counsel during the company’s collaboration with Astra. Please note: This claim is supported by "pierson1." This is reference #6 in your original notes. We are also citing "ap2010nov30." This is supported by reference #5 in your original notes.
  • Suggested text: Two years later, he was appointed to lead the company's public affairs group. Please note: This claim is supported by "pierson1." This is reference #6 in your original notes.
• Frazier became senior general counsel in 1999 ^[8]
• Top legal post in December 1999 ^[2]
  • Suggested text: He was named senior general counsel in 1999, promoted to executive vice president and general counsel by 2006. Please note: This claim is supported by "pierson1." This is reference #6 in your original notes.
• As general counsel, he was credited with overseeing the company's defense against Vioxx-related litigation. ^{[9] [8]}
  • Suggested text: As general counsel, he was credited with overseeing the company's defense against Vioxx-related litigation... Please note: This claim is supported by "koppel." This is reference #7 in your original notes.
• Over 5,000 lawsuits relating to Vioxx ^[3]
  • Suggested text: and its nearly 5,000 lawsuits claiming Vioxx... Please note: This claim is supported by "hepp1." This is reference #1 in your original notes.
• Lawsuits claimed that Vioxx caused heart attacks and strokes ^{[4] [1]}
  • Suggested text: caused heart attacks and strokes. Please note: This bullet point is supported by "dd." This is reference #3 in your original notes
• Vioxx case was “the most significant challenge I’ve ever faced” ^[4]
  • Suggested text:Frazier has said that the Vioxx case was “the most significant challenge” he ever faced. Please note: This claim is supported by "dd." This is reference #3 in your original notes
• Case was settled for $4.85 billion in 2007 ^{[8] [10] [1]}
• From 2007 to 2010, he served as executive vice president and president of the company's global human health unit. ^[11]
  • Suggested text: and led the company's largest group, human health, from 2007 to 2010... Please note: This claim is supported by "koppel." This is reference #7 in your original notes.
• In 2010, he became Merck's president ^[11]
  • Suggested text: before being named president of Merck. Please note: This claim is supported by “ap2010nov30." This is reference #5 in your original notes
• President in April ^{[3] [12]}
• on January 1, 2011 its CEO. ^[12]
  • Suggested text: On January 1, 2011 he became CEO and a member of the company’s board of directors... Please note: This claim is supported by “ap2012dec01." This was reference #5 in your original notes.
• Succeeded Richard T. Clark as CEO ^{[3] [8]}
  • Suggested text: ...replacing former Merck CEO Richard Clark. He became chairman of the board on December 1, 2011
• Merck is second-largest drug company in US ^[4]
• Was eligible for $11.25 million compensation in cash and stock in 2011 ^[4]
• Base salary of $1.5 million in 2011 ^{[4] [12]}
  • Suggested text: Merck is the second-largest drug company in the United States. In 2011, Frazier was eligible for $11.25 million in cash and stock and had a base salary of $1.5 million. Please note: This claim is supported by "dd." This is reference #3 in your original notes
• first African-American to lead a major pharmaceutical company ^[1]
• directed Merck to take a financial risk in developing treatments for Alzheimer's ^[10]
• analysts expected the liability from Vioxx to be $20-50 billion ^[10]
• motivated at Merck by a desire to improve the lives of people in developing countries ^[10]
• would "like to see a lot more spending on prenatal care and less at the end of life" ^[10]
• Chose to fight every Vioxx case in court rather than settle quickly ^[7]
• Prioritized research funding over meeting the 2013 earnings target ^[7]

• On November 11, 2011, as a member of the Penn State board of trustees, the board selected Frazier as chairman of a commission empaneled to investigate a child sex abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and allegations of a cover up by university officials. ^[13]

  Please note: The article does not state that Frazier was selected by the board. It only states that as the “chairman of a newly formed committee” he would conduct “a thorough probe” We are open to your recommendations if you would like to change, but you may also leave as is.

  Thanks for the correction. I'll review the article and replace this note with more accurate information. DPRoberts534 ( talk) 01:22, 11 October 2013 (UTC) reply

• Chairman of the commission empaneled to investigate allegations of sexual abuse at Penn State ^{[13] [14]}
• Kenneth Frazier's commission retained the private law firm Freeh, Sporkin & Sullivan as "Special Investigative Counsel" who then hired Pepper Hamilton, legal counsel for Merck. The report, costing the university $6.5 million, was accepted and used as the basis for the NCAA sanctions against Penn State. ^[15](unreliable?)

  Please note: We are unable to confirm the reliability of this report.

  I don't doubt the reliability of this information, but it is not particularly relevant and the report itself is a problematic source. I will see if I can find alternate, neutral sources. DPRoberts534 ( talk) 06:13, 23 October 2013 (UTC) reply

• Frazier was criticized by attorney William Cluck and other Penn State alumni for his role in the Penn State Board of Trustees' handling of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, particularly its decision to fire head football coach Joe Paterno. ^[14]

  Please note: We have not recommended any changes to this statement.

• On March 14, 2013, while defending the Freeh report at a sub-committee meeting of the Penn State Board of Trustees, Frazier commented on William Cluck's race, saying "if you cared about that, you are one of the few people in this country that looks like you who actually believes the O.J. Simpson not guilty verdict was correct." ^[16]

  Please note: We have not recommended any changes to this statement.

• Frazier apologized for his remarks to Cluck several days later. ^[17]
• Elected to the Board as a business and industry trustee ^[18]
• First term began July 1, 2009. ^[18]

• "Boards of Exxon Mobil Corp., Pennsylvania State University, Cornerstone Christian Academy in Philadelphia" ^[3]

  Please note: This claim is supported by “ap2010nov30." This is from reference #5 in your original notes. We suggest moving this up to the preceding section.

• helped run CCA in the late 1990s ^[4]
  • Suggested text: In the late 1990s, Frazier was a founding board member of the Cornerstone Christian Academy, an inner-city school K-8 school in Philadelphia, and currently serves on the board of trustees. Please note: This claim is supported by "=happ1." This is from reference #5 in your original notes.
• "I support tax revenue increases, including the top 2 percent, but only if accompanied by responsible spending limits." ^[10]
• Member of the Board of Trustees of the Cornerstone Christian Academy in Philadelphia ^[19]
• Appointed by President Obama as a member of his Export Council ^[5]

• Received the Equal Justice Champion award from EJI in 2009 ^[1]
• Received the National Equal Justice Award from the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in 2012, shared with Merck ^[20]
• Received the Exemplar Award from the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) in 2008 for his service to low-income communities and for promoting pro-bono work. ^[21]

• Remarks by Kenneth C. Frazier at the 2013 American Law Institute annual meeting on YouTube

Please note: We are requesting this additional information be added, if possible.

• Suggested text: In 2012, Frazier joined several CEOs who met with President Barack Obama to discuss deficit and debt reduction. Frazier said he supported tax revenue increases, including the top 2 percent, but only if accompanied by responsible spending limits. Frazier also discussed the importance of innovation and continued support for biomedical research. Reference is cited in the section below.
• Suggested text: On September 18, 2013, President Obama appointed Frazier as a member of the President’s Export Council to represent the views of business on the nation’s export policies and deep commitment to expanding U.S. exports. Reference is cited in the section below.
• Suggested text: He spoke at The American Law Institute’s 90th Annual Meeting in May 2013, on being a lawyer in private, in-house practice and from his current vantage point as CEO of Merck. Reference is cited in the section below.

Please note: We are requesting this as an additional section

• Frazier has been recognized for his advocacy in providing legal representation to underserved communities and for his personal pro bono work. Please note: The reference is cited in the section below.
• 2012: National Equal Justice Award from the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Please note: The reference is cited in the section below.
• 2008: National Legal Aid & Defender Association Exemplar Award for longtime service on behalf of low-income communities Please note: The reference is cited in the section below.
• 2004: Excellence in Corporate Practice Award from Association of Corporate Counsel for legal advocacy and counseling Please note: The reference is cited in the section below.
• 2003: Laurie D. Zelon Award (housed at Georgetown University Law Center) for pro bono work Please note: The reference is cited in the section below.

• graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1975 with a BA in Political Science, and attended Harvard Law School.

Please note: we suggest deleting this, as we've covered above.

Kenneth Carleton Frazier (born (1954-12-17)December 17, 1954) is the Chairman and CEO of Merck & Co. and the first African-American to lead a major pharmaceutical company. ^{[1] [11]}

Life

Frazier is a native of North Philadelphia, one of the poorest parts of the city. ^[3] His father, Otis, was a janitor at the United Parcel Service and raised him and his two siblings. ^[3]

Frazier’s mother died when he was 12. ^[4] His late father suffered from Alzheimer's disease, which Frazier says inspires him to lead Merck in its development of Alzheimer's medicines. ^[10]

Frazier graduated early, at the age of 16, from Northeastern High School. ^{[3] [7]} He has said Thurgood Marshall was one of his heroes growing up. He completed his undergraduate studies at Pennsylvania State University and sold tadpoles and newts to local stores to make money in college. ^{[3] [4]}

Frazier is married to Andrea with two children, Lauren and James. ^[4]

Drinker Biddle

He began his law career at Drinker Biddle & Reath in Philadelphia and was a partner at the firm. ^[3]

While there, Frazier and two colleagues began working on the case of James Willie “Bo” Cochran, an Alabama man on death row. In 1976, Cochran was arrested, accused and convicted of murdering an assistant manager at a Birmingham grocery store. ^{[4] [6]} Frazier and his colleagues took the case in 1991. ^[4] In 1995, after 19 years on death row, the 11th United States Courts of Appeals overturned his conviction. In 1997, Cochran was retried and found not guilty. ^[6]

Merck

Frazier joined Merck in 1992 in the public affairs division as vice president, general counsel during the company’s collaboration with Astra. ^{[8] [11]}

Within two years, he was leading the public affairs group. He was named senior general counsel in 1999, promoted to executive vice president and general counsel by 2006. ^[8]

As general counsel, he was credited with overseeing the company's defense against Vioxx-related litigation and its nearly 5,000 lawsuits claiming Vioxx caused heart attacks and strokes. ^{[4] [9]} Frazier has said that the Vioxx case was “the most significant challenge” he ever faced. ^[4]

From 2007 to 2010, he served as executive vice president and president of the company's largest group, the global human health unit before being named president of Merck. ^{[9] [11]} On January 1, 2011 he became CEO and a member of the company’s board of directors, replacing former Merck CEO Richard Clark. He became chairman of the board on December 1, 2011. ^[12]

Merck is the second-largest drug company in the United States. In 2011, Frazier was eligible for $11.25 million in cash and stock and had a base salary of $1.5 million. ^[4]

Frazier sits on the boards of Exxon Mobil and the Weill Cornell Medical School and Graduate School of Medical Sciences. ^[11] In the late 1990s, Frazier was a founding board member of the Cornerstone Christian Academy, an inner-city school K-8 school in Philadelphia, and currently serves on the board of trustees. ^{[11] [19]}

Penn State

On November 11, 2011, as a member of the Penn State board of trustees, the board selected Frazier as chairman of a commission empaneled to investigate a child sex abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and allegations of a cover up by university officials. ^[13]

Kenneth Frazier's commission retained the private law firm Freeh, Sporkin & Sullivan as "Special Investigative Counsel" who then hired Pepper Hamilton, legal counsel for Merck. The report, costing the university $6.5 million, was accepted and used as the basis for the NCAA sanctions against Penn State.(unreliable?) ^[15]

Frazier was criticized by attorney William Cluck and other Penn State alumni for his role in the Penn State Board of Trustees' handling of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, particularly its decision to fire head football coach Joe Paterno. ^[14]

On March 14, 2013, while defending the Freeh report at a sub-committee meeting of the Penn State Board of Trustees, Frazier commented on William Cluck's race, saying "if you cared about that, you are one of the few people in this country that looks like you who actually believes the O.J. Simpson not guilty verdict was correct." ^[22]

Frazier apologized for his remarks to Cluck several days later. ^[16]

‘’Suggested section: Work and Awards’’

In 2012, Frazier joined several CEOs who met with President Barack Obama to discuss deficit and debt reduction. Frazier said he supported tax revenue increases, including the top 2 percent, but only if accompanied by responsible spending limits. Frazier also discussed the importance of innovation and continued support for biomedical research. ^[10] On September 18, 2013, President Obama appointed Frazier as a member of the President’s Export Council to represent the views of business on the nation’s export policies and deep commitment to expanding U.S. exports. ^[5]

He spoke at The American Law Institute’s 90th Annual Meeting in May 2013, on being a lawyer in private, in-house practice and from his current vantage point as CEO of Merck. ^[23]

Frazier has been recognized for his advocacy in providing legal representation to underserved communities and for his personal pro bono work

• 2012: National Equal Justice Award from the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund ^[20]
• 2008: National Legal Aid & Defender Association Exemplar Award for longtime service on behalf of low-income communities ^[21]
• 2004: Excellence in Corporate Practice Award from Association of Corporate Counsel for legal advocacy and counseling ^[24]
• 2003: Laurie D. Zelon Award (housed at Georgetown University Law Center) for pro bono work ^[25]

^{[3] [4] [6] [2] [7] [10] [8] [11] [9] [12] [13] [15] [14] [22] [16] [17] [18] [26] [27] [28] [5] [20] [29] [21] [24] [25] [1] [23] [19] [30] [31]}