Merck eyes big shares of Indian vax market

Merck is positioning itself to become the largest vaccine player in the Indian market by 2013. And it's concentrating on rolling out vaccines for cancer, rotavirus and shingles as soon as they become available.

"We plan to launch the latest products from our global stable at a relatively faster pace. While the lead time for MNCs to launch their novel drugs in India is 17-20 years after the US or European launch, we will look at near concurrent launch in India," said Anjana Narain, director (vaccine), MSD Pharma, the wholly-owned Indian arm of Merck. According to the Economic Times, Merck has two vaccines in the Indian market--Pneumovax 23 and the recently-launched Gardasil.

The Indian vaccine market has been growing at a rate of 25 percent to 30 percent a year.

- read the report from the Economic Times

ALSO: Construction hasn't even finished at Merck's new Durham, North Carolina vaccine plant and the company's already considering what to do next. The $750 million plant, which is expected to be completed in 2011, will house 400 workers and the production of childhood vaccines and a shingles shot for adults. But Merck has two more experimental vaccines in testing that will need a home. Article

Related Articles:
Merck to cut 7,200 jobs
Merck's McGlynn has key role developing vaccines
New tech drives huge growth in vaccine business
Indian developer inks R&D pact with Merck