Sanofi, Emcure in marketing pact for cancer drugs

Mumbai, August 08, 2014 – Multinational drugmaker Sanofi has entered into a marketing and distribution agreement with Pune’s Emcure Pharmaceuticals to sell its cancer products in India.

While Sanofi will continue to own its cancer products comprising the four brands Taxotere®, Jevtana®, Fludara® and Fasturtec®, Emcure will market and distribute these brands at their existing price through its specialty unit, Sanofi said.

Explaining the tie-up, Shailesh Ayyangar, Vice President – South Asia and Managing Director, Sanofi India and Sanofi – Synthelabo, said in a statement, “Realising that managing the complexities of cancer necessitates the availability of a wide range of products and supporting therapies, we found that combining our efforts and product range with that of Emcure Oncology, makes immense sense for both companies.

“Doctors and patients will now have access – ‘under one roof’ – to one of the most comprehensive and complementing oncology portfolios in India. Sanofi will continue to provide strong scientific and medical support to Emcure’s already well-established and fast growing oncology business.”

This is Sanofi’s third alliance with Emcure, its earlier agreements cover products such as anti-rabies vaccine, Verorab.

Interestingly, Emcure has an existing tie-up on a couple cancer drugs with multinational Roche as well.

Emcure produces the drugs locally, and as a result manage to sell it at a price less than the innovator’s cost. Business Line