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Mumbai, Friday 03
March 2006:
AstraZeneca AB today
announced the acquisition of Vancocin®
CP (Vancomycin) Trade Mark for India
and Nepal from Eli Lilly.
Vancocin® CP, widely considered the
treatment of choice for resistant
bugs called MRSA (methicillin resistant
staphylococcus aureus), ideally complements
AstraZeneca’s flagship brand Meronem®,
the ultra-broad spectrum antibiotic
with proven efficacy against ESBL
(Extended Spectrum Beta- Lactamase)
producers.
“AstraZeneca already has a strong
presence in the ICU set up with Meronem®.
Vancocin® CP, with its strong brand
equity and leadership position in
the Indian market, is a perfect fit
and will enhance and further strengthen
our existing portfolio.” said Bhasker
Iyer, Managing Director, AstraZeneca
Pharma India Ltd.
An increasing incidence in ESBL and
MRSA bugs in the ICU setting are constantly
challenging clinicians. These bugs
can only be destroyed using special
antibiotics that are reserved for
serious infections. Unfortunately,
these bugs are not easily detectable
in routine laboratory tests leading
to treatment failure and deaths
AstraZeneca is convinced that the
augmented portfolio would now offer
clinicians a valuable synergistic
combination to effectively manage
patients with serious infections that
are difficult to detect & treat.
Meronem®, AstraZeneca’s global, research
brand, belongs to the carbapenem group
of antibiotics with a dominant 52%
share, in a competitive market with
more than 16 brands. Launched in 2002,
Meronem® is used in ICUs across India
for the management of serious infections
such as Pneumonia, Sepsis, Meningitis
etc.
Vinod Mattoo, Medical Director, Eli
Lilly India added, “This is a conscious
decision as a part of our global strategy,
to divest from products that do not
fit into our key therapeutic areas,
Vancocin® CP is one such product.
We will however continue to focus
on our other key therapy areas like
Diabetes, Oncology, Cardiovascular
and Endocrine disorders in India.”
Eli Lilly India has been promoting
Vancocin® CP since 1994 and commands
a 54% market share and enjoys a strong
equity amongst specialists across
the country.
About AstraZeneca
In India, AstraZeneca’s presence includes:
AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited (AZPIL),
the Marketing Company, with products
in six major therapeutic areas - Oncology,
Cardiovascular, Maternal Healthcare,
Infection, Respiratory & Neuroscience
and a world-class manufacturing unit
conforming to WHO current Good Manufacturing
Practices (cGMP).
AstraZeneca India Pvt. Ltd. (AZIPL),
the centre of excellence established
in 1996, and an integrated part of
the AstraZeneca R&D network, is
the only MNC in India focused on discovering
novel drugs or therapies for tuberculosis.
A new, state-of-the-art Process R&D
facility, employing over 50 scientists,
will be operational by mid 2006.
For further details pls contact:
R&PM:Edelman, Bhavna Thapar
Email: bhavna.thapar@rnpmc.com
Mobile: +9198190 88948
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