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Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. and Merck Serono announce collaboration to develop and commercialize Biosimilars
- Combined expertise of Dr. Reddy’s and Merck Serono to deliver on promise of Biosimilars
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Hyderabad, India, June 06, 2012
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. [NYSE:RDY] and Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today a partnership to co-develop a portfolio of biosimilar compounds in oncology, primarily focused on monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The partnership covers co-development, manufacturing and commercialization of the compounds around the globe, with some specific country exceptions.
Dr. Reddy’s has been a pioneer and leader in the biosimilars space through proven product development capabilities and the launch of four biosimilars molecules to date. The partnership with Merck Serono expands on Dr. Reddy’s presence in the biosimilar space in select emerging markets and enables participation globally.
G. V. Prasad, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories said, "We strongly believe that biosimilars is an important area of future growth and these products give us the opportunity to provide affordable and innovative medicines to patients across the globe. With the recent EMA and FDA guidance on biosimilars, it is clear that any significant player in the field will need strong biologics development, manufacturing and commercialization capabilities. Merck Serono’s and Dr. Reddy’s joint expertise in these fields makes for a powerful global partnership."
"Our expertise in developing, manufacturing, and commercializing biopharmaceuticals gives us a clear advantage in the biosimilars field, and the partnership with Dr. Reddy’s will bring their first-in-market experience in biosimilars, as well as their expertise in generics and Emerging Markets, to the table," added Stefan Oschmann, Chief Executive Officer of Merck Serono. "Sharing know-how, risks and rewards is the right approach to enter the emergent biosimilars market and will be a win-win for both parties. It further strengthens Merck Serono’s promise to live science and transform lives, by increasing access to quality medicines for patients, physicians and payers."
The deal structure calls for Merck Serono and Dr. Reddy’s to co-develop the molecules included in the agreement. Dr. Reddy’s will lead early product development and complete Phase I development. Upon completion of Phase I, Merck Serono will take over manufacturing of the compounds and will lead Phase III development. The agreement is based on full R&D cost sharing.
Merck Serono will undertake commercialization globally, outside the US and with the exception of select emerging markets which will be co-exclusive or where Dr. Reddy’s maintains exclusive rights. Dr. Reddy’s will receive royalty payments from Merck Serono upon commercialization. In the US, the parties will co-commercialize the products on a profit-sharing basis. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Disclaimer
This press release includes forward-looking statements, as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes in local and global economic conditions, our ability to successfully implement our strategy, the market acceptance of and demand for our products, our growth and expansion, technological change and our exposure to market risks. By their nature, these expectations and projections are only estimates and could be materially different from actual results in the future.
About Biosimilars
Biologics, or large molecule pharmaceuticals are complex, highly targeted and generally expensive therapies that are a growing contributor to overall global healthcare spend. The burden on patients and payers has resulted in an increasing demand for generic alternatives to off-patent biologics, most commonly known as biosimilars. Patent expiries in the immediate future present opportunities to serve the global population with high quality, low cost equivalents of proprietary biopharmaceuticals, commonly known as biosimilars.
About Dr. Reddy’s
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. (NYSE: RDY) is an integrated global pharmaceutical company, committed to providing affordable and innovative medicines for healthier lives. Through its three businesses - Pharmaceutical Services and Active Ingredients, Global Generics and Proprietary Products – Dr. Reddy’s offers a portfolio of products and services including APIs, custom pharmaceutical services, generics, biosimilars, differentiated formulations and NCEs. Therapeutic focus is on gastro-intestinal, cardiovascular, diabetology, oncology, pain management, anti-infective and pediatrics. Major markets include India, USA, Russia and CIS, Germany, UK, Venezuela, S. Africa, Romania, and New Zealand. For more information, log on to: www.drreddys.com
About Merck Serono
Merck Serono is the division for innovative prescription pharmaceuticals of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative small molecules and biopharmaceuticals to help patients with unmet medical needs. In the United States and Canada, EMD Serono operates through separately incorporated affiliates.
Merck Serono has leading brands serving patients with cancer (Erbitux®, cetuximab), multiple sclerosis (Rebif®, interferon beta-1a), infertility (Gonal-f®, follitropin alfa), endocrine and metabolic disorders (Saizen® and Serostim®, somatropin), (Kuvan®, sapropterin dihydrochloride) as well as cardiometabolic diseases (Glucophage®, metformin), (Concor®, bisoprolol), (Euthyrox®, levothyroxine). Not all products are available in all markets. With an annual R&D expenditure of more than € 1 billion, Merck Serono is committed to growing its business in specialist-focused therapeutic areas including neurodegenerative diseases, oncology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as new areas potentially arising out of research and development in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
About Merck
Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of € 7.7 billion in 2009, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by approximately 40,000 (including Merck Millipore) employees in 64 countries. Its success is characterized by innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck’s operating activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and free shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.
For more information, please visit www.merckserono.com or www.merck.de
For more information please contact:
Investors and Financial Analysts:
Kedar Upadhye at kedaru@drreddys.com / +91-40-66834297
Raghavender R at raghavenderr@drreddys.com / +91-40-49002135
Saunak Savla at saunaks@drreddys.com / +91-40-49002135
Milan Kalawadia (USA) at mkalawadia@drreddys.com or at 908-203-4931
Media:
S Rajan at rajans@drreddys.com / +91-40-49002445
