Abbott to market Zydus Cadila’s 24 generic products to 15 emerging markets

Zydus Cadila will license 24 branded generics to Abbott for 15 emerging markets.

Abbott have entered a strategic agreement for commercializing branded generics in emerging markets.

Abbott’s agreement with Zydus also includes an option for additional 40 products to be included over the term of the collaboration.

The products will be manufactured by Zydus Cadila for Abbott at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in India.

Financial terms of the agreement were undiscolsed.

While the deal allows Zydus Cadila to leverage its robust regulatory pipeline, innovative development capabilities and manufacturing strengths, it strengthens Abbott’s global position, enabling it to further accelerate its emerging markets growth.

“We have always believed in working with partners for win-win alliances that look at new opportunities for growth and expansion. In this alliance we see tremendous opportunity to participate in multiple ways in a market that is growing and expanding rapidly,” Speaking on the new development,” stated, Pankaj R Patel, chairman and managing director Zydus Cadila.

The Zydus-Abbott collaboration includes medicines for pain, cancer and cardiovascular, neurological and respiratory diseases.

The partnership will leverage Abbott’s powerful emerging markets infrastructure – which was further strengthened with the recent acquisition of Solvay Pharmaceuticals – to commercialize Zydus’ products, with product launches beginning in 2012.

In March, AstraZeneca entered into a similar license and supply agreement with Indian firm Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd tol supply 18 generic products to nine emerging markets.

As per the deal Torrent will supply a portfolio of generic medicines to AstraZeneca for which the Indian company already has licenses in a range of countries.

AstraZeneca will brand Torrent generics and sell them in many of its emerging markets, using its marketing force.

Initially, AstraZeneca will purchase from Torrent the licenses and market authorizations for 18 products in nine countries.

The AstraZeneca-Torrent agreement allows the flexibility to add further products and new countries, the Anglo-Swedish company said in a press statement.

Torrent’s supply deal with AstraZeneca has been the latest among the series of such generic-innovator alliances which has been happening since last year.

In February, Indoco Remedies Ltd., a Mumbai-based generic company, announced a technology licensing agreement to supply a number of sterile products to Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc for the United States market.

As per the deal, Indoco will provide API manufacturing, formulation development and manufacturing of the generic formulations for the selected products. Watson will prepare and file the Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) for US FDA approval and will have rights to market, sell and distribute these products in the US pharmaceutical market.

In January, Pfizer entered into a collaboration with India’s Strides Arcolab on the supply of 40 generic products.

Pfizer’s new deal with Strides Arcolab follows two similar alliances last year with Aurobindo and Claris LifeSciences of India.

Under the new collaboration Pfizer will commercialize Stride’s off-patent sterile injectable and oral products in the United States through its Established Products Business Unit.

These finished dosage form products will be licensed and supplied by Strides and Onco Laboratories Limited and Onco Therapies Limited, two joint ventures between Strides and Aspen, South Africa, in which each has a 50% ownership interest.

In May last year, Pfizer, the world’s largest drug maker, acquired rights to 55 generic  pills and 20 injectables for more than 70 emerging and developed markets through new deals.

Pfizer Inc, also entered into a licensing pact with Indian generic injectables producer Claris Lifesciences besides expanding it present alliance with Aurobindo.

Pfizer has expanded the existing collaboration with the Hyderabad, South India-based Aurobindo Pharma Ltd reached earlier this year to sell 60 off-patent drugs. Meanwhile Pfizer’s agreement with Claris Lifesciences Ltd is to market 15 off-patent injectable drugs.

Pfizer has prioritized making licensing deals to expand its injectables business, in which it believes there are relatively few rivals and maintains it has a competitive cost structure.

Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer has acquired rights to 55 solid oral dose products and 20 sterile injectable products for patients in more than 70 emerging market countries in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

These medicines include antibiotics and anti-infectives, and cover a broad range of disease areas like cardiovascular and central nervous system disorders. Pfizer will commercialize the 60 products in phases tailoring its approach for different regions.

Pfizer will gain rights to 60 products to be sold in developing markets, where it is seeking to add $3 billion in annual sales by 2012.

Pfizer’s Established Products Business Unit launched its U.S. Injectables team less than 10 months ago and is already marketing products in the US Through this new collaboration with Strides, Pfizer continues to demonstrate its commitment to become one of the top players in the injectables market.