EMS Laboratory will launch Generic Viagra
Valor Econômico
The EMS national laboratory, in Hortolandia (SP), the country's biggest laboratory, will market its generic version of Viagra, whose patent expiration is anticipated for June this year in Brazil. Pfizer wanted to extend a patent on this medicine until June 2011. Valor found out that the company is only awaiting the approval of Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) to put the product in the market. The approval shall come at any time. Next to Lipitor, a drug that fights high cholesterol, Viagra is considered one of the major 'blockbusters' (sales best seller) worldwide. Lipitor, with global sales of US$ 13 billion, will lose its patent in December this year.
Worldwide, the famous blue pill (for erectile dysfunction) generates nearly US$ 1.9 billion. Nationwide, it generates about R$ 170 million (US$ 94.4 million). A generic drug may have the price reduced up to 65%, according to the national legislation.
The national giant EMS wants to market the generic version of the main drugs that are about to lose the patent. Other laboratories in the country, which include multinationals, are interested in doing the same, considering that the generics market has strong potential for expansion. The estimates are that the loss of patent will boost the generics market by R$ 800 million (US$ 444 million) this year and in the next one, according to Pro-Generic (Brazilian Association of Manufacturers of Generic Medicine). About 25 medicines are losing their patent until the end of 2011, including products purchased by the government. Diovan, from Swiss pharmaceutical Novartis, also considered a best seller, is coveted by generic producers.
With earnings around R$ 2.1 billion (US$ 1.17 billion), EMS invests about 6% of its revenues in research and development (R & D), as well as most of the great multinationals. Headquartered in Hortolândia, interior of São Paulo, the company also has a productive unit in São Bernardo do Campo, in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, and a logistics center in Jaguariúna (SP).
The production capacity of the laboratory is 360 million units per year. In the area of prescription, the group operates with about 200 products - cardiology 25%, gynecology 13% and psychiatry 9%, among others. The plans of the company also include expansion abroad. The arm of the company in the international market is the Germed Pharmaceuticals. The strengthening of the EMS brand in the domestic market is one of the goals of the group, controlled by Sanchez family. The company, founded in 1964, sells medicine such as Energil C, Bengo balsam, Gelmax antacid and Gerovitral.