downtoearth-subscribe

Ranbaxy sell-out: Reversal of fortunes

The Ranbaxy sale to Daiichi Sankyo could herald a new phase in the evolution of the Indain pharmaceutical industry. In order to cope in a world after the agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights came into force, some of the larger Indian firms pursued the two strategies of a greater internationalisation of sales of generic drugs and a focus on research and development as junior partners of global giants. Ranbaxy had mixed success with the two strategies. In recent years Ranbaxy found itself increasingly squeezed in both areas and was therefore left with little choice but to sell out. The issue once again then is to stretch the flexibilities in TRIPS and renegotiate the agreement