Merck Serono strengthens prescription medicines portfolio in Latin America
Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has won the exclusive rights to market, sell and distribute more than 30 of Bristol-Myers Squibb's prescription medicines across Latin America.
Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has won the exclusive rights to market, sell and distribute more than 30 of Bristol-Myers Squibb's prescription medicines across Latin America.
The agreement includes established pharmaceutical brands in the CardioMetabolic Care therapeutic area.
"This distribution agreement is a perfect strategic fit with our prescription drug business in Latin America, further enhancing our market position," said Franck Latrille, executive vice president commercial international at Merck Serono. "The established medicine brands of
Bristol-Myers Squibb will complement our already strong portfolio, especially in cardiovascular diseases and in the field of primary care, so that we can offer added value to physicians and patients."
Dieter Weinand, president of Latin America/Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: "This agreement allows us to further focus on becoming a next-generation BioPharma leader while ensuring patients continue to have access to important medicines."
The agreement is limited to an initial period of three years, with the possibility of further extension upon mutual agreement. The Latin America countries covered are: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. The portfolio includes renowned brands such as Pravachol (pravastatin) for the treatment of elevated cholesterol levels and Monopril, an ACE-inhibitor used in the field of hypertension. While Merck Serono will be the exclusive distributor, Bristol-Myers Squibb will remain responsible for manufacturing of the medicines.
Merck KGaA is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Latin America, with total sales of EUR569m in this region in 2007.