NEW DELHI, July 18: Drug major Lupin today said it has inked an in-licensing agreement with pharma company MSD, under which the company will market MSD’s pneumonia prevention vaccine under a different brand name in India.
As part of the agreement, Mumbai-based Lupin will have a non-exclusive licence to market, promote and distribute MSD’s 23-valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine under a different brand name in the country, Lupin Ltd said in a statement.
“We believe that the partnership is an important step forward as both companies share a common passion and commitment to make a meaningful difference to the lives of patients suffering from pneumococcal diseases in India,” Lupin President (India & CIS countries) Shakti Chakraborty said.
MSD India, which is an affiliate of Merck & Co Inc that operates in more than 140 countries, would also continue to sell the vaccine in the country.
“This partnership is aligned with our commitment towards patients in India and also addressing treatment challenges for high risk patients by providing broader access to our innovative medicines and vaccines,” MSD India Managing Director K G Ananthakrishnan said.
He added that the partnership is a perfect amalgamation as MSD brings the research and scientific excellence for pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines, and Lupin brings marketing excellence, significant reach among key clinician categories to drive product access.
Powered by a 5,200 specialty sales force, Lupin has in-licensed 37 drugs in the past four years, eight out of which were first of its kind drugs for the Indian market.
Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by bacteria and it results in variety of pneumococcal diseases with pneumonia being the most common occurrence in adults.
MSD India operates in India via three separate legal entities MSD Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Organon India Ltd and Fulford India Ltd.
Shares of Lupin touched all-time high of Rs 904.95 intra-day on the BSE, and was quoting higher by 2.53 per cent at Rs 895.65 at 1200 hrs on the BSE. (PTI)
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