Pfizer to enter generic market in Japan; India’s Cipla in supply deal talks: Reports

India’s largest generic firm Cipla Ltd is reportedly in talks with Pfizer Inc to supply generic products, even as Pfizer announced its plans to enter the generic-drug market in Japan – the world’s 2nd largest pharma market.

Cipla, which several manufacturing facilities spread across India, has been on a capacity expansion spree, of late, anticipating global generic partners.

Big Pharma companies have been forging alliances with generic firms recently as part of their efforts to capture the fast-emerging opportunities in generic drugs after the growth in leading markets began to stall.

Pfizer itself expanded a pre-existing alliance with India’s Aurobindo Pharma, in May besides forging a supply pact with Claris Life Sciences of Ahmedabad on injectable products.

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.

To date, 128 non-Pfizer products – 98 solid oral dose and 30 sterile injectables – have been added to the company’s existing diversified portfolio of established brands.

In the developed world, Pfizer is seeking to add $1 billion by 2012 for its established products unit, which includes its off-patent medicines. The deals are expected to add products that will contribute to more than half of that revenue goal.

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.

The Claris agreements advanced Pfizer’s Established Products strategy, which focuses on the commercialization of products where market exclusivity has been lost.

Similarly in June, the British drug giant GlaxoSmithKline plc has sealed an agreement with India’s Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd to develop and market over 100 branded generic products across a number of emerging markets, excluding India.

Under the terms of the agreement, GSK will gained exclusive access to Dr. Reddy’s portfolio and future pipeline of more than 100 branded pharmaceuticals in therapeutic segments such as cardiovascular, diabetes, oncology, gastroenterology and pain management.

These branded generic products will be manufactured by Dr. Reddy’s, and licensed and supplied by GSK in various countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America. In certain markets, products will be co-marketed by the GSK and Dr. Reddy’s.

Meanwhile Pfizer Inc. has announced its plans to enter the generic-drug market in Japan as early as 2011.

Pfizer is planning to establish a new unit to sell 68 generic and off-patent drugs, reports said.

At present, Pfizer has a distribution center in Nagoya city and a packaging center in Yokohama.

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