Merck Serono agrees emerging markets partnership with Lupin

Merck Serono has entered into a new long-term strategic partnership with Indian pharmaceuticals business Lupin to broaden its general medicines portfolio.

Lupin will assist Merck Serono in expanding the scope of its product range in emerging markets, allowing it to address local need for affordable high-quality medicines in Latin America, Asia, Central Eastern Europe and Africa.

Building on an established working relationship between the two companies, this could add up to 20 new products to the current portfolio, with the first launches expected in 2016.

Lupin will develop agents, provide product dossiers and supply finished drugs to Merck Serono, which will be responsible for commercialising the therapies, leveraging its strong commercial and medical infrastructure in emerging markets.

Elcin Ergun, head of global commercial activities at Merck Serono, said: "The collaboration will significantly strengthen our portfolio and Merck Serono's position as one of the major players in emerging markets."

The firm sells products in more than 150 countries worldwide and saw organic sales growth of three percent during the second quarter of 2014.