SA’s biggest generic drugmaker, Aspen Pharmacare, has concluded a deal that will give it exclusive rights to market, distribute, use and sell American pharma company Amgen’s products in South Africa.
The R83bn JSE-listed Aspen said the transaction will be for an initial term of five years, which it expects will be renewed, BusinessLIVE reports.
Biotechnology pioneer Amgen’s medicines reach millions patients around the world.
The transaction includes future pipeline products and an opportunity for expansion into the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The company has a presence in 100 countries and regions and its medications are used in the fight against serious illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and many others.
The announcement of the transaction comes just two months after Aspen Healthcare, a subsidiary of Aspen, entered into a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Chemical Company Holding.
Under this agreement, the companies will further expand their existing partnership to collaborate on an extended portfolio of products, the manufacturing of products in Saudi Arabia, and the export of products to existing Aspen markets.
Aspen said in March it had made progress in contract negotiations with four multinational customers seeking to secure a portion of its sterile manufacturing capacity, but did not reveal the details.
CEO Stephen Saad said Aspen also aims to close “important product portfolio transactions, to further enhance the commercial pharmaceuticals businesses in Latin America and SA”.
BusinessLIVE article – Aspen scores partnership agreement with US biotech group (Restricted access)
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