MSD Pharma to launch four new vaccines

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Hyderabad, Nov 14 : MSD Pharmaceuticals Private Ltd, the wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc, is bullish on long-term growth through collaborative research activites. The company is all set to launch four new vaccines in the Indian market every six months which includes a pentavalent vaccine for rota virus, chicken pox, hepatitis, herpes zostar.

Incidentally, the parent company is working on four more novel vaccines in the areas of anti-infectives and post-operative segment. MSD currently operates within three therapeutic areas such as critical care, metabolic and vaccines. The product pipeline for the next few years focuses on four key diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and novel vaccines.

Explaining about its plans, Naveen A Rao, MD, said: “Our research initiatives have committed focus to meet the unmet medical needs which would be valued highly by patients, payers and physicians.” However, it does not have any plans to have any separate incubation research centres in the country.

“We see good science outside the country. Hence, we are optimistic about collaborative research between the government, academia, research institutes and the industry,’’ Rao said. The collaborative research activities would focus on anti-infectives, oncology, metabolics and CNS drugs, he said. Currently, the company has collaborations with Ranbaxy, Advinus, Nicholas Piramal and Orchid Pharma and is negotiating with few more.

Refuting rumours about setting up a manufacturing plant, Rao clarified that it is not in the agenda now. “While there are no immediate plans, we would also look at the volumes and as we are committed to low prices, we would go where it would be convenient for manufacturing,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the company launched Gardasil, a quadrivalent vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, caused by the HPV types, in the AP market.