Germany's Merck plans divestment of biosimilars business

Merck is developing a biosimilars portfolio focused on oncology and autoimmune diseases through both in-house research and development expertise in biologics and partnerships with other biosimilar players. It has strategic alliances with India’s Dr Reddy’s Laboratories to co-develop multiple cancer drugs and with Bionovis in Brazil to supply the Brazilian market with biological products under the Productive Development Partnership (PDP) policy of the Brazilian Ministry of Health.

With Dr Reddy’s, Merck signed a partnership agreement in June 2012 to co-develop a portfolio of biosimilar compounds in oncology, primarily focused on monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). As per the pact, Dr Reddy’s was expected to lead early product development & complete phase I development, with Merck taking over manufacturing of the compounds and leading phase III development.