Merck KGaA to enter Japanese OTC market

Merck KGaA has announced that is entering the Japanese over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical product market with the launch of Bion3.

Bion3 – a probiotics, multivitamin and mineral combination product – will mark the company’s first foray into the consumer health care market in Japan, which is the second-biggest in the world for OTC medicines.

“We believe that Bion3, the first product to uniquely combine probiotics with multivitamins and minerals, will be well received in Japan, where consumers are discerning and health conscious,” said Peter Shotter, head of Merck’s consumer health care division.

The move sees Merck KGaA team up with SATO Pharmaceutical to offer the medicine, which is licensed to the Japanese firm by Merck Selbstmedikation GmbH, a subsidiary of the consumer health care division.

Mr Shotter believes that the collaboration with what is a “respected name” in the Japanese market will help make Bion3 a “global brand”.

Merck KGaA recently announced a deal between the Merck Serono division and Archemix of Cambridge, Massachusetts, regarding first-in-class aptamer therapeutics.