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BY OUR PHARMA CORRESPONDENT
31 August, 2005: Merck KGaA has established Genpharm, a generic pharmaceuticals business in the United States. Based in New York, Genpharm will provide direct access to customers in the US.
The move would increase the company's presence in the US pharmaceutical market, and would help solidify its position in the world generics market, Merck's generics business, Merck Generics Group, commented.
Robert J Mauro, former president and chief operating officer of Able Laboratories has been appointed the President, Genpharm. Mr Mauro will be responsible for Merck's generics business in the US, excluding the operations of Dey.
Merck Generics is a subsidiary division of Merck KGaA, based in Darmstadt, Germany. It has no connection with the US-based Merck & Co. With sales of just under 1.6 billion euros in 2004, generics now form the largest segment of Merck KgaA’s pharmaceutical business, accounting for 46% of revenues.
Merck’s generic businesses are not grouped under a single name. The leading subsidiaries are Alphapharm, the noted generic manufacturer in Australia, and Merck Generiques, based in France. Other important subsidiaries include Genpharm, in Canada, and Generics (UK).
The latest acquisition for Merck is NM Pharma, based in Stockholm, Sweden. The unit was previously part of Pharmacia. In 2004, Merck moved its leading US company, Dey, into its generic division, as ‘the basis for strategic reorientation’. Dey is not a generic manufacturer as such, but develops novel delivery systems for off-patent products.
BY OUR PHARMA CORRESPONDENT
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