Merck Serono to partner with Lupin for emerging market exposure

Merck Serono, the biotech unit of Germany’s Merck KGaA (MRK: DE), has entered a strategic partnership with Indian pharma major Lupin as part of the drugmaker’s expansion in to emerging markets.

Lupin will develop products, provide dossiers and supply finished drugs to Merck Serono, focusing on cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, which will be responsible for the marketing authorization side of the business, covering nations such as Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Philippines and countries in Africa and central Eastern Europe. In African regions, drugs will be developed for additional therapeutic areas to reflect local healthcare needs, including antibiotics.

The first drug launches are expected from the collaboration in 2016, and while the terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, it will give Merck Serono access to sales in emerging markets which accounted for $2.3 billion of its revenue in 2013.