RANBAXY LAUNCHES ATORVASTATIN IN GERMANY
Agreement with Innovator allows early entry of generic before patent expiry
Synergistic Arrangement with Daiichi Sankyo Germany
Gurgaon, India; Leverkusen/Munich, March 06, 2012
The German subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (Ranbaxy), Basics GmbH located in Leverkusen, today launched Atorvastatin Basics® (10/20/40/80 mg), a generic version of the cholesterol lowering drug Sortis®*, in the German market. Ranbaxy, headquartered in Gurgaon, India, had obtained, pursuant to a settlement agreement with Pfizer, the rights to an early entry of Atorvastatin in the German market. Pfizer's patent for Sortis® expires in Germany on May 7, 2012.
Basics' affiliate in Germany, Daiichi Sankyo Deutschland GmbH will assist in the launch. Daiichi Sankyo has a substantial reach amongst Cardiologists and Physicians, in the German market.
"Atorvastatin is the gold standard in the area of cholesterol lowering therapy, helping millions of people worldwide to reduce their cholesterol levels" said Heike Streu, Managing Director of Basics GmbH. "We are delighted to be able to provide a safe, effective and affordable alternative to the German patients. The involvement of Daiichi Sankyo will ensure that the physicians are informed about the early entry of Ranbaxy's Atorvastatin in Germany", said Streu.
Ralf Göddertz, Managing Director of Daiichi Sankyo Deutschland emphasized that this is the first collaboration between Daiichi Sankyo and Basics in Germany. Göddertz said: "This launch follows hard on the heels of the partnership established last November between Ranbaxy's Italian subsidiary, Ranbaxy Italia, and Daiichi Sankyo Italia to distribute two of Daiichi Sankyo's long established brands. It is a true pilot project by which we will kick-off the hybrid business model between the two companies in Germany. At the same time this project is important for both companies and is a step for further expansion in this country."
Apart from Germany, Daiichi Sankyo and Ranbaxy are working on synergies in other countries, such as India, Romania, Italy and Mexico, among others.
The early and exclusive commercialisation of patent free products to customers at an affordable price, is a central part of the business model of Ranbaxy worldwide. Earlier on November 30, 2011, Ranbaxy launched Atorvastatin, a generic version of Lipitor® in the U.S. market with 180 days of marketing exclusivity, as it was a First-to-File (FTF) applicant on the product. Recently, Ranbaxy also introduced generic Atorvastatin in Australia with 3 months exclusivity.
About Daiichi Sankyo
Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical products to address the diversified, unmet medical needs of patients in both mature and emerging markets. While maintaining its portfolio of marketed pharmaceuticals for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and bacterial infections, the Group is engaged in the development of treatments for thrombotic disorders and focused on the discovery of novel oncology and cardiovascular-metabolic therapies. Furthermore, the Daiichi Sankyo Group has created a "Hybrid Business Model," which will respond to market and customer diversity and optimise growth opportunities across the value chain. For more information, please visit: www.daiichisankyo.com.
About Daiichi Sankyo Europe
Daiichi Sankyo Europe, the European base of Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., is located in Munich and has affiliates in 12 European countries including Germany in addition to a global manufacturing site located in Pfaffenhofen, Germany. For more information, please visit: www.daiichi-sankyo.eu.
About Ranbaxy and Basics
Basics GmbH, located in Leverkusen, is a 100% subsidiary company of the Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, which ranks among the top international generics companies.
Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, India's largest pharmaceutical company, is an integrated, research based, international pharmaceutical company producing a wide range of quality, affordable generic medicines, trusted by healthcare professionals and patients across geographies. Ranbaxy's continued focus on R&D has resulted in several approvals, in developed and emerging markets many of which incorporate proprietary Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) and technologies, developed at its own labs. The company has further strengthened its focus on generics research and is increasingly working on more complex and specialty areas. Ranbaxy serves its customers in over 125 countries and has an expanding international portfolio of affiliates, joint ventures and alliances, ground operations in 46 countries and manufacturing operations in 7 countries. Ranbaxy is a member of the Daiichi Sankyo Group. Through strategic in-licensing opportunities and its hybrid business model with Daiichi Sankyo, a leading global pharma innovator headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Ranbaxy is introducing many innovator products in markets around the world, where it has a strong presence. This is in line with the company's commitment to increase penetration and improve access to medicines, across the globe. For more information, please visit www.ranbaxy.com
* Sortis® is a registered trademark of Pfizer in Germany.