Lupin acquires Japan’s I’rom Pharma

I’rom is a Tokyo-based speciality injectables drugmaker with annual sales of 5.36 billion yen ($69.7 million) for year ended March 2011,Lupin said in a statement without disclosing the deal value.

I’rom Pharma,being acquired by Lupin’s unit Kyowa,is a fully-owned subsidiary of I’rom Holdings Co,and has a significant presence in the fixed-rate treatment hospitals segment in Japan,where the government mandates clinics to offer low-cost healthcare services.

Since the treatment cost at such hospitals is fixed,they are more inclined to use generic products,Vinod Dhawan,Lupin President for Asia Pacific,Middle East,Africa and Latin America,told Reuters over the telephone.

There are currently over 1,400 fixed-rate treatment hospitals in Japan,which are called DPC hospitals,covering over 35 percent of all the hospital beds in the island nation.

Lupin expects I’rom Pharma sales to touch $75 million in the current financial year ending March 2012,Dhawan said.

Kyowa makes oral products and with I’rom,we will also enter the injectables,he said.

The combined sales of Kyowa and I’rom Pharma would reach $230-$240 million in FY12,raising Japan’s contribution to Lupin revenue to 15 percent from 12 percent now,he added.

Other than U.S.,Indian drugmakers have been exploring markets like Japan,Russia,South Africa and Latin America to expand presence in generic drugs segment.

The semi-regulated and emerging markets other than India contribute about 20-25 percent of overall sales for Indian drugmakers.

We continue to look for acquisitions in Latin America region… especially in Brazil and Mexico,but there hasn’t been a success so far,he said.

Separately,Kyowa has entered into a strategic alliance with I’rom Holdings’ another unit to gain support for clinical trials to be conducted in Japan.

Shares of Lupin,valued $4.02 billion by market,were trading at 444.10 rupees by 1:26 p.m. (0756 GMT),down 2.6 percent in a choppy Mumbai market.

($1 = 76.950 Japanese Yen)

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