Pfizer strikes deal with Strides Arcolab on 40 generic products

Pfizer has 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.

The financial terms of the supply agreement between Pfizeer and Strides were not disclosed.

“In addition, this agreement brings the total number of products in-licensed by our Established Products Business Unit to more than 200 — resulting in a total business unit portfolio of approximately 600 high-quality, reliable, and cost effective products for patients,” according to David Simmons, president and general manager of Pfizer’s Established Products Business Unit.

The first of the products commercialized under Pfizer-Strides collaboration is expected to be launched in 2010.

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.

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.

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.