A fortnight after multinational drug-maker MSD and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries forged a drug development alliance for emerging markets, the two companies have come together again to market a couple of MSD's diabetes drugs in India.
As part of an India-specific strategy, Sun Pharma will market, promote and distribute MSD's diabetes products sitagliptin and sitagliptin plus metformin, under different brand names in India, the two companies said in respective communiqués. No further details were divulged.
The MSD India Managing Director, Mr K.G. Ananthakrishnan, said in the statement both partners complement each other's strengths in this arrangement. MSD brings the scientific excellence and market success of the compound to the partnership, while Sun Pharma brings its success and expertise in marketing of drugs in the relevant therapeutic areas across India, he said.
MSD is the trade name for the US-based Merck outside the US and Canada.
Sun Pharma shares were marginally down at Rs 445 on the BSE on Monday.