The drugmaker has announced a few organizational changes at its research operations and, while the recent acquistion of Organon Biosciences is cited as a prime reason, the moves come after weeks of mounting criticism over the handling of the Enhance trial for the Vytorin cholesterol med.

First up is Jacqueline Elbonne, an eight-year Schering-Plough veteran, who is now a vp for global research quality, which means she will oversee the interplay between research and such activities as manufacturing, labs, clinical work and pharmacovigilance, while also meeting regulatory requirements. She now reports to Tom Koestler, executive vp and the president of the drugmaker’s research unit. No specific explanation is offered for the move.

The Organon deal, however, is cited as the reason for these changes. Martin Huber, who was vp of global pharmacovigilance since July 2006, now is also deputy chief medical officer, reporting to Bob Spiegel, the chief medical officer. As a result, Huber will now serve on the safety review board, interacting on “product-related issues” with regulators and professional societies, manage medical aspects of litigation and work on risk management.

And Hans Rekers, who was with Organon for 20 years, most recently as vp of medical affairs, was named deputy chief medical officer for Europe, also reporting to Spiegel and doing many of the same things that Huber will do, such as sitting on the safety review board.

UPDATE: A Schering-Plough spokesman calls to say Elbonne’s position is newly created and was in the works for “many months.”