The Hindu Business Line : Merck to launch diabetic drug Januvia soon

Bangalore, April 25 Pharma major Merck & Co, Inc is improving its operations, visibility and market presence in India and is focusing on the launch of Januvia, its drug for insulin-independent diabetics, according to Dr Richard Tillyer, Senior Vice-President, Head of Worldwide Preclinical Development at Merck & Co, Inc.

The US-based company opened office in Delhi in 2005 as Merck Sharp & Dohme Pharmaceuticals P Ltd (MSD), and has 400 personnel. “We do intend to have a major impact here. We are gearing up to launch Januvia here in India soon,” Dr Tillyer said, during the inauguration of the three-day Bangalore Bio here. Merck is also a global partner for the event.

Sold globally as the patented Januvia, Merck’s blood glucose lowering drug sitagliptin phosphate is said to have made revenue of over $660 million worldwide in 2007.

The MSD-India team would grow to 800 people by the end of the year, up from two just two years back, Dr Tyllyer said. Merck was adopting a partnership strategy in India to develop and market the next wave of drugs and vaccines.

One such is already under way with the Tata group-promoted Advinus Therapeutics.

The MSD-India Web site says its medical and clinical research division will co-ordinate research projects with clinical investigators in leading hospitals and universities.

More milestones

Meanwhile, research partner Advinus said it has received two more milestones – one each in two programmes - with Merck & Co.

The second milestone for one programme was reached within four months of the first, announced in November 2007.

Advinus and Merck began their tie-up in November 2006 to develop clinically validated drug candidates in metabolic diseases. Merck has the option of taking forward the most promising drug candidates into late-stage clinical trials.

Advinus receives milestone payments that could potentially touch $74.5 million a target and on the sales of any products that emerge from the collaboration.

Mr Rajiv Malik, Senior Vice-President and Head of Operations, said, “Together, we have met or surpassed all the expectations that were set out between the partners”.

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