The Hindu Business Line : Merck returns to India — To invest $15 m; focus on sales, R&D

Mr Leonard Tauro, Managing Director, MSD India, flanked by Mr M. Parthasarathy (left), and Dr N. Rao, directors, at a news conference in the Capital on Friday. — Kamal Narang

New Delhi , July 22

IT is a second coming for the US-based pharmaceutical major Merck & Co. The company has announced commencement of operations through its wholly owned subsidiary MSD Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd.

And for starters, it will introduce two drugs, Zienam (a beta-lactam anti-biotic) and Aggrastat (a cardiovascular drug) in the Indian market.

Speaking to newspersons, Mr Leonard Tauro, Managing Director, MSD Pharmaceuticals, said, "With the passing of the patent regime in India, we thought the atmosphere was conducive for business and we are looking at bringing in our products here soon."

Besides the two products that will hit the market in August, four other products are undergoing registration studies. These include Invanz, an anti-biotic, Cancidas, an anti-fungal and two vaccines, Pneumovax (anti-pneumonia) and Varivax (anti-chicken pox).

"The studies of these products are expected to be completed by the end of this year and after getting regulatory approvals we expect a launch by mid next year," he said.

MSD is also exploring the possibility of getting into marketing alliances with other Indian companies. "We have spoken to several leading pharma companies and will take a call," said Mr Tauro, declining to divulge details.

The company in its FIPB application has said that it would invest $15 million in the next five years and would focus on sales, marketing and research operations in the country. However, there are no immediate plans to set up manufacturing unit in the near future.

Research and development in India is high on the company's priority list. "We could start with clinical trials and then move into drug discovery," said Dr Naveen A. Rao, Medical Director, MSD. Globally, Merck spent $3.5 billion on R&D last year.

The company would be looking at the therapeutic areas of oncology, neurological disease, metabolic diseases and diabetes. Internationally, Merck is also developing an AIDS vaccine. It is also open to entering into in-licensing and out-licensing arrangements with pharma companies here.

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