Merck teams up with Sun on emerging markets generics
pharmafile | April 12, 2011 | News story | Sales and Marketing |Â Â India, Merck, Sun Pharma, emerging marketsÂ
Merck Inc has created a joint venture with Indian firm Sun Pharmaceutical Industries to develop, manufacture and market branded generics in the emerging markets.
Mumbai-headquartered Sun has its own drug development arm, Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company, and a well-established manufacturing network. The companies say this will combine well with Merck’s expertise in clinical development and registration and its presence in markets around the world.
The joint venture will focus on ‘innovative branded generics,’ that bring together combinations of medicines using drug delivery and formulation technologies designed to make medicines more convenient for patients in emerging markets.
“This joint venture reinforces our strategy of partnering to launch products using our highly innovative delivery technologies around the world,” said Dilip S. Shanghvi, chairman and managing director, Sun. “Merck has an unrivalled reputation as a world leading, innovative, research-driven pharmaceutical company. We’re proud to be associated with them and look forward to working together.”
Emerging markets are expected to produce 90% of the world’s pharmaceutical growth in the coming decades, with 75% of that growth coming from branded generics. In these markets, the growing burden of chronic disease, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hepatitis, along with an increasing population and economic prosperity, is leading to an increased demand for branded generics.
“Merck has a proud legacy of developing innovative medicines and vaccines with proven ability to impact global human health,” said Ali. “We are making good progress executing on our Emerging Markets growth strategy by establishing novel partnerships and strategic alliances. This joint venture helps position us for leadership in the fastest growing geographies.”
The collaboration between MSD (as Merck is known outside North America) and Sun Pharma will be managed by a Joint Board and leadership team, consisting of members of senior management from both companies. The joint venture will be structured through the companies’ respective subsidiaries. Financial details of the joint venture were not disclosed.
Sun was established in 1983, and manufactures and markets a large number of pharmaceutical formulations as branded and ‘incrementally innovative’ generics in India, the US and across several emerging markets. In India, it is the leader in a number of drug classes, including psychiatry, neurology, cardiology, diabetes and gastroenterology. The company also has strong skills in product development, process chemistry, and the manufacturing of complex active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and dosage formulations.
Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company (SPARC) is a listed, independent R&D company that discovers and develops new molecules and novel drug delivery systems, with a 220+-strong team of scientists and four R&D centres.
SPARC’s delivery system projects focus on developing platform technologies that enhance patient convenience or compliance, such as oral (gastro retentive innovative device, wrap matrix technology), injectables (nanoparticulate formulations, biodegradable depots), dry powder inhalers, ophthalmic technologies (swollen micelle and gel free reservoir). Some products based on these technologies are marketed in India.
Andrew McConaghie
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