Merck to roll out money-spinning drugs soon

Merck Sharp & Dohme Pharmaceuticals, wholly owned subsidiary of US drug major Merck and Co, is all set to introduce three of its money-spinning drugs - Cosopt, Invanz and Pneuvax -worth over $650 million by global sales, in India.

MSD India is in the process of a major recruitment drive to provide marketing support to its international brands.

Disclosing this, Murali Parthasarathy, business unit director, MSD, said the three products were chosen on the basis of the value addition it can bring to the Indian market.

Cosopt, the combination drug used to treat glaucoma, has sales turnover of $500 million and is the major revenue earner among MSD's opthalmology brands.

Invanz, the drug used to treat community-acquired pneumonia, enjoys international sales worth $150 million. Pneuvax-23, a pneumococcal vaccine, has an assured domestic market with no generic equivalent currently being marketed in the country.

Both Cosopt and Invanz, though having patent protection in key international markets, are not patented in India. While Cosopt has a couple of generic equivalents in the domestic market, Invanz has no generic threat in India.

MSD, which made a re-entry to the Indian market in 2005 (after a gap of 16 years), is currently having just three products - Cancidas, Zienam and Aggrastat - approved for domestic marketing.

"We did business worth $2.5 million last year. We are confident of expanding our Indian presence and become among the top 10 players in Indian medicine business by 2015." Parthasarathy said.

The company is planning to induct at least 100 marketing professionals in the current year. MSD also plans to provide more research funds to come out with projects, which can improve the quality of medical practice in the country.