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2010 Current News
MSD in South Africa and Adcock Ingram Enter Into Strategic Collaboration to Co-promote and Distribute Products in South Africa
24 June 2010
MSD and Adcock Ingram, South Africa's second largest pharmaceutical company, today announced a five-year strategic collaboration to co-promote and distribute a number of established MSD products. MSD is a tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., with headquarters in Whitehouse Station, N.J., U.S.A. The products that will be jointly promoted by MSD and Adcock Ingram include over-the-counter (OTC) products and selected prescription medicines currently registered in South Africa by MSD and Schering-Plough. Financial details of the collaboration were not disclosed.
Collaboration Will Drive Growth
“The collaboration announced today is part of Merck's long-term strategy of expanding our geographic presence which will position us for leadership in Emerging Markets,” said Dr. Stefan Oschmann, president, Emerging Markets, MSD. “We expect sales from these geographies to be a key contributor to our future performance. As part of our pursuit of that growth we will strive to expand our presence across these markets by actively seeking local collaborations. This collaboration, with a highly respected local partner, shows our commitment to invest in South Africa. It also better positions both our companies to address the serious burden of disease in South Africa and provide the people and patients of South Africa with access to affordable, high-quality health care."
Dr. Jonathan Louw, chief executive officer, Adcock Ingram, said, “This agreement is timely and consistent with our company’s growth strategy. We are excited about partnering with the second-largest pharmaceutical company in the world and a global leader in prescription brands and consumer care products. We are expanding our collaboration with MSD because it will enhance our diverse portfolio and broaden our pipeline of new products in the marketplace. We bring a formidable marketing and distribution capacity backed by an excellent track record of delivery to this partnership.”
Adcock Ingram and MSD have been working together successfully in South Africa for a number of years. Adcock Ingram has been responsible for marketing of Organon Biosciences N.V women’s healthcare products since 2005. Netherlands-based Organon was acquired by Schering-Plough in 2007, prior to the merger of Merck with Schering-Plough in 2009.
The collaboration between MSD and Adcock will be managed by a Joint Operating Committee consisting of management members of both companies.
Large Portfolio of Products Part of the Collaboration
MSD entered into a collaboration with Adcock Ingram to co-promote and distribute products from various therapeutic areas such as:
COZAAR® (losartan), FORTZAAR® (losartan/hydrochlorothiazide) and RENITEC® (enalapril) -- hypertension
ZOCOR® (simvastatin) -- cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)
FOSAMAX® (alendronate sodium), FOSAVANCE® (alendronate sodium/cholecalciferol) -- osteoporosis
SINGULAIR® (montelukast) -- asthma
MAXALT® (rizatriptan benzoate) -- migraine
ELOCON® (mometasone) -- dermatology
OTC products (including CLARITYNE®, DEMAZIN®, DESELEX®, NEOCLARITYNE®, DRIXINE®, AFRIN®, TINADERM®)
About MSD
Today's MSD is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Through our medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer care and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching programs that donate and deliver our products to the people who need them.
About MSD in Emerging Markets
In the Emerging Markets, MSD is currently ranked #4 by market share among multinational companies (IMS Health 2009); this ranking includes Asia Pacific, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa. For MSD, Emerging Markets are defined as the following regions and countries: Asia Pacific, China, Latin America, Brazil, Eastern Europe and Middle East and Africa. MSD's current portfolio and R&D focus are complementary to important disease areas with pressing public health issues in Emerging Markets: infectious diseases, vaccinations, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, women’s health and respiratory.
About MSD in South Africa
In South Africa, MSD is currently ranked #8 by market share, including local companies (IMS Health, as of February 2010). MSD products have been available in South Africa for many years. MSD’s South African head office is located in Midrand, Gauteng, and the company employs approximately 350 people (excluding animal health business employees), most of them in highly specialised fields, such as research, industrial pharmacology, medicine and various other specialties. MSD also operates a facility which supplies novel medicines to both the local and export markets. The facilities operations encompass packaging, materials management, quality operations, engineering services and exports.Following the completion of the global merger between Merck and Schering-Plough in 2009, Ashley Pearce became the managing director of MSD.
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