Merck, Supera Farma Establish Brazilian JV

Merck has established a joint venture with Supera Farma Laboratorios S.A., a Brazilian pharma company co-owned by Cristália and Eurofarma. The JV will market, distribute and sell a portfolio of innovative pharmaceutical and branded generic products in the Brazilian market. Merck, through a subsidiary, will own 51% of the JV, and Cristália and Eurofarma together will own 49%. A joint board and leadership team will manage the venture with members from all three companies.

The initial JV portfolio will include approximately 30 products across a range of therapeutic areas. The JV will have a dedicated sales force separate from Merck, Cristália and Europharma, but will leverage the parent companies’ infrastructures for certain activities.

“Merck is pleased to partner with two of Brazil’s leading pharmaceutical companies, organizations that share our commitment to enhancing health care for the people of Brazil,” said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “This venture is an important step forward in our strategy to grow our business in key markets and improve global access to our medicines and vaccines.”

Ogari Pacheco, president of Cristália, said, “This joint venture is a combination of Cristaliá’s creativity, Eurofarma’s commercial efficiency and Merck’s innovation.”

Maurizio Billi, president of Eurofarma, said, “We are sharing experience and combining the very best of each company, making this joint venture more competitive in the Brazilian market. Partnering with Merck is a strategic move to advance access to innovative pharmaceutical products.”