A generic drug deal between Dr. Reddy’s and Merck

01 February, 2006

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. of India said on Wednesday that it had entered into an agreement with U.S.drug maker Merck & Co. to sell generic versions of Merck's Proscar and Zocor drugs after patent expiry. There has been a rise in the United States of so-called authorized generic drugs-- unpatented versions of branded medicines that are launched by pharmaceutical groups when their medicines lose patent protection.

Dr. Reddy's said the agreement allows it to sell generic versions when Merck's patents on the cholesterol fighter Zocor and prostate drug Proscar expire, provided some other company wins 180-day exclusivity deal after the patent expires. Industry executives have complained that such authorized generics cut by half the profits to be made during the first 180 days of sale, when the first generic firm is supposed to enjoy market exclusivity under U.S. rules designed to reward successful patent challenges.

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