UAE's Julphar inks five-year deal to market Merck & Co drugs

United Arab Emirates-based drugmaker Julphar has signed a five-year licensing deal with US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the USA and Canada, granting it exclusive rights to produce, market, distribute and sell certain MSD medicines in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Iraq, the company said.

Julphar will manufacture some MSD products for the first time in this region, including therapies for diabetes, asthma, allergy, pain and inflammation.Both companies will seek the relevant authorities’ prior approvals on registration and production of the products locally, the statement added. No financial terms of the accord were disclosed.

“Our partnership with Julphar means stronger focus on innovative ways to address critical diseases, a closer connection with current and potential customers, and a region-wide focus on their health care needs. In light of the exemplary efforts by regional governments to improve their national healthcare systems,” said Ramsey Morad, vice president, MSD for the Middle East region.