Ranbaxy Laboratories on Thursday launched a generic version of Prasugrel, used in treating heart diseases, from Daiichi Sankyo portfolio in India as part of strategy to launch drugs from the parent company's stable.
The product, Prasita, is the second drug from Daiichi Sankyo portfolio which has been introduced in India to be sold through Ranbaxy's network.
The company had earlier launched Olvance (olmesartan medoxomil), an anti-hypertension drug in India from Daiichi Sankyo's portfolio in April 2009. This is one of the largest selling drug of the Japanese drug maker.
"We are pleased to be able to introduce Prasita in India. A number of synergy projects between Ranbaxy and Daiichi Sankyo are already underway, and we will further strengthen our common endeavour to realise greater benefits from our Hybrid Business Model," Ranbaxy Managing Director Atul Sobti said in a statement.
The company will solely market the drug in the country, it added. "The launch of our two top flagship products, olmesartan medoxomil and prasugrel, by Ranbaxy shows our serious commitment to India, and we will continue to explore further collaborations leveraging the Hybrid Business Model," Daiichi Sankyo President and CEO Takashi Shoda said.
As per a hybrid business model, Ranbaxy will primarily focus on generic medicine research both for itself and its parent firm while the new drug discovery programme is taken up by Daiichi Sankyo. Ranbaxy became a part of Daiichi Sankyo Group in 2008 after Japans third largest drug maker bought a majority stake for Rs 22,000 crore (Rs 220 billion). Shares of Ranbaxy Laboratories were trading at Rs 418 on BSE, down 0.18 per cent from its previous close.
