Pfizer expands generics pact with India’s Strides to include more injectables, more markets

World’s top drug maker Pfizer has expanded its generics sourcing alliance with India’s Strides Arcolab to include more injectable products and more markets.

The new collaboration between Pfizer and Strides Arcolab now extends to a total of 45 products addressing countries around the globe.

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

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

Under the new agreement, Strides will license and supply up to 38 generic oncology products to Pfizer for markets in the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Korea.

The second agreement covers niche sterile injectables for the US market.

The finished dosage form products will be commercialized by Pfizer through its Established Products Business Unit.

The financial terms of both agreements were not disclosed.

“We are excited about extending our important partnership with Strides to reach an even larger global patient population,” said David Simmons, president and general manager of Pfizer’s Established Products Business Unit.

This continued collaboration also help Pfizer to become a leader in the injectables market.

“We are delighted to strengthen our engagement – it validates our strategic intent to be a partner of choice to Pfizer and to be a leader in the specialty segment with a focus on specific therapeutic segments such as oncology,” said Arun Kumar, vice chairman and Group CEO.

The first of the products under the new agreements, is expected to be commercialized in late 2010 or early 2011.

Pfizer’s Established Products Business Unit launched its US Injectables team about a year ago and is already marketing products in the United States.

In May, 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.

Strides Arcolab is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bangalore, India that develops and manufactures a wide range of IP-led niche pharmaceutical products with an emphasis on sterile injectables.

Strides has 14 manufacturing facilities across 6 countries, including its joint venture with Aspen in India and has a marketing presence in more than 60 countries in developed and emerging markets.