Sigma-Tau could enter the race to acquire the generic unit of the German Merck KGaA. The Italian company would in fact have been contacted by an important American Private Equity fund to enter the list of possible buyers. A fairly large list which would include, among others, the Israeli Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the Indian Ranbaxy Laboratories and the generic Sandoz division of the Swiss Novartis, but also smaller companies including the American Watson Pharmaceuticals.
Merck KGaA, controlled at 73% by the Merck family, recently listed the sale of its generics division as a possible move for the near future. The reserve will only be dissolved around mid-2007, according to what was reported in recent days by the same company. Merck KGaA generics had sales of 1.8 billion euros last year and its value is estimated at more than 4 billion euros. If Sigma-Tau's initiative is successful, it would allow the Italian company to enter the market for generic medicines which is expected to reach 100 billion dollars worldwide by 2010.
From “pharmacist33”
Merck KGaA, controlled at 73% by the Merck family, recently listed the sale of its generics division as a possible move for the near future. The reserve will only be dissolved around mid-2007, according to what was reported in recent days by the same company. Merck KGaA generics had sales of 1.8 billion euros last year and its value is estimated at more than 4 billion euros. If Sigma-Tau's initiative is successful, it would allow the Italian company to enter the market for generic medicines which is expected to reach 100 billion dollars worldwide by 2010.
From “pharmacist33”
