Ranbaxy to Extend Daiichi Sankyo Product Reach to Pharmacists Across Italy

GURGAON, India and MILAN, October 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Begins Distribution of Cardiovascular Medicines CONGESCOR and LOPRESOR

Ranbaxy Italia S.p.A (Ranbaxy) and Daiichi Sankyo, Italia S.p.A (Daiichi Sankyo), today announced a partnership to leverage Ranbaxy's distribution strengths and extensive relationships with Pharmacists across Italy, for the distribution of Daiichi Sankyo products.

To start with, Ranbaxy will exclusively distribute two of Daiichi Sankyo's long established brands - CONGESCOR and LOPRESOR - to all pharmacies, in the country. These drugs are used extensively by Doctors in Italy for the treatment of Congestive Heart Failure and Hypertension. As per IMS Health, the total annual retail sales of CONGESCOR and LOPRESOR are around Euro 20 Mn.

The partnership in Italy provides further impetus to the Hybrid Business Model between the two companies by comprehensively addressing Doctors and Pharmacists in improving the accessibility of drugs, for patients.

Commenting on the development, Neeraj Sharma, Managing Director, Ranbaxy Italia S.p.A, said, "Ranbaxy will use its extensive sales force network to ensure adequate retail presence for CONGESCOR and LOPRESOR and provide Daiichi Sankyo with direct access to the Pharmacists, who are important stakeholders, in the pharmaceutical value chain. The arrangement will ensure the wide availability of the drugs and improve their accessibility for patients."

Daiichi Sankyo, Italia, through its dedicated team of Medical Representatives, will continue to take care of the Physicians, mainly Cardiologists and Internists, promoting the two products.

Welcoming the arrangement, Antonino Reale,Managing Director, Daiichi Sankyo, Italia, S.p.A said, "The partnership extends our product reach and brings together the strength and the market equity of the Daiichi Sankyo brands, combining these aspects, with the strong pharmacy sales and distribution network of Ranbaxy, for mutual advantage."

Daiichi Sankyo Italia is one of the fastest growing R&D based pharmaceutical company in Italy. It markets about 15 products primarily in the field of cardiovascular therapies. It is currently ranked among the IMS top 50 pharma companies in Italy.

Ranbaxy Italia is among the top 10 companies in the fast growing generic market in Italy. Its sales team comprising 65 sales reps offers a portfolio of almost 60 high quality generic products to a dedicated customer base of almost 3,000 pharmacies across the country.

Please visit http://www.ranbaxy.com for more information.