Global pharmaceutical major
Merck & Cohas made a comeback in the Indian
market after a gap of two decades, citing the
change in patent laws as a primary reason for
making the Indian market attractive.
The pharma Firm has set up
a wholly-owned subsidiary Merck Sharp and Dohme
Pharmaceuticals (MSD) to recommence operations
in India. Based in the New Delhi, MSD will market
its medicines, vaccines and hospital products.
Mr. Naveen Rao, MSD medical
director said that the Company initially plans
to launch two of its life saving drugs —
Aggrastat (which prevents cardiac ischemic events)
and Zienam (an antibiotic aimed at treating infections
in hospitalised patients) in India. These will
be followed by vaccines like Pnemovax and Varivax
by the next year. Four of its products are undergoing
registration studies, which will later be imported
and marketed in India.
Leonard Taura, the Indian unit's
MD, however suggested that the Firm would also
consider options of setting up manufacturing units
and R&D facilities in India and may consider
a JV with Indian pharma-companies in the future.
