India’s Lupin Limited has formed a long-term strategic partnership with Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA, to assist Merck Serono in implementing its expansion initiative of its General Medicines portfolio in emerging markets. The agreement builds on an established working relationship between the two companies and could add up to 20 new products to the current portfolio. The first launches are expected in 2016.

Through this partnership, Merck Serono will expand its overall portfolio in core therapeutic areas of Merck Serono´s General Medicine & Endocrinology franchise in select countries in Latin America, Asia, Central Eastern Europe, and Africa. The partnership covers major markets, such as Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, and Philippines, alongside several countries in Africa and Central Eastern Europe, as well as other countries in emerging markets with a focus on cardiovascular and diabetes diseases. In Africa, medicines will also be supplied for additional therapeutic areas, reflecting local healthcare needs such as availability of antibiotics.

Sales in the emerging market regions are one of the key growth drivers for Merck Serono, amounting to close to EUR 1.8 billion in 2013. Lupin will develop products, provide product dossiers and supply finished products to Merck Serono. Merck Serono will be the marketing authorization holder for the products and will leverage its commercial and medical teams in emerging markets to bring new medicines in its portfolio to customers.

Source: Lupin