Merck (MSD) expands South African business

Merck (MSD) has entered into strategic collaboration deal with South African company Adcock Ingram. The two companies will co-promote and distribute a selection of prescription products across a number of therapy areas including: asthma, dermatology, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, migraine and osteoporosis. A number of over-the-counter (OTC) products will also be included in the deal. All of the products are currently registered in South Africa by MSD and Schering-Plough.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Dr Stefan Oschmann, president, Emerging Markets, MSD said: "We expect sales from these [emerging] markets to be a key contributor to our future performance and growth. As part of our pursuit of that growth we will strive to expand our presence across emerging markets by actively seeking local collaborations." 

Merck expects more than 25 per cent of its global pharmaceutical and vaccine revenue in 2013 to come from emerging markets. The company is the second biggest pharmaceutical company (by revenue) in the world. Its key products include the cholesterol drugs Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin) and Zetia (ezetimibe), and the asthma therapy Singulair (montelukast sodium).