Drug-maker Lupin has entered into a marketing distribution alliance with multinational company Sanofi-Aventis to sell Sanofi's central nervous system brands, Solian (Amisulpride) and Stilnox (Zolpidem Hemitartrate) in the Philippines.
For an overseas market this is Lupin's second big-ticket alliance in a little over a month. In late July, Lupin had forged an alliance with Eli Lilly India to promote and distribute Lilly's insulin range Huminsulin in India and Nepal.
The recent deal with Sanofi is through group-company Sanofi-Aventis Philippines Inc, and Multicare Pharmaceuticals, Lupin's Philippines subsidiary. The annual revenues of these brands are valued at PHP 138 million (Rs 15 crore), a Lupin note said.
Though Lupin has been present in the Philippines for two years, only recently did it set up a dedicated sales team of 15 people, a company representative said.
Solian is the third-largest selling atypical anti-psychotic agent in the Philippines, and is indicated for acute and chronic schizophrenia. Stilnox is the second-largest selling drug for insomnia and sleep disorders in the country, Lupin said.
The deal is similar to the format of the Lilly deal, in that it is in the buy-and-sell format, the representative said, indicating that there was no revenue or profit-sharing arrangement in it. Further, the two companies are talking to expand the alliance to other markets and products in the Philippines, the representative added.
Lupin's Multicare has four key strategic business units focused on women's health, paediatrics, respiratory, gastro-intestinal disorder, diabetes care and CNS, and is among the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies in the Philippines market.
Lupin shares closed up 4 per cent on the BSE at Rs 467 on Friday.