Pfizer makes another move into generics in deal with Strides Arcolab; enters into discovery accord with Ensemble

In what was a busy day for global pharmaceutical behemoth Pfizer, the firm's chief executive admitted at an investor conference that he was dealing with mistakes of the past three years, the company announced a further move into the generics sector in a collaboration with an Indian drugmaker and announced a drug discovery deal on developing novel agents against protein-protein interactions.

Pfizer revealed a collaboration with Bangalore, India-based Strides Arcolab to commercialize off-patent sterile injectable and oral products in the USA through its Established Products Business Unit. These finished dosage form products will be licensed and supplied by Strides and Onco Laboratories and Onco Therapies, two joint ventures between Strides and Aspen, South Africa, in which each has a 50% ownership interest. The financial terms of the supply agreement were not disclosed.

The companies believe this is a highly complementary collaboration, which is expected to deliver 40 off-patent products, many of which are oncology therapeutics, to healthcare providers and patients in the USA, by joining Pfizer's solid commercial infrastructure with Strides' high-quality manufacturing capabilities. The first of the products commercialized under this collaboration is expected to be launched in 2010.