OREANDA-NEWS. April 19, 2012. Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (“Daiichi Sankyo”) and Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (“Ranbaxy”) announced today that “Terapia Ranbaxy”, a subsidiary of Ranbaxy in Romania, will launch Sevikar®, a fixed dose combination of olmesartan medoxomil and amlodipine besylate tablets, in Romania. Sevikar® will be available in 3 strengths of 5/20mg (amlodipine besylate 5mg, olmesartan medoxomil 20mg), 5/40mg (amlodipine besylate 5mg, olmesartan medoxomil 40mg) and 10/40 mg (amlodipine besylate 10mg, olmesartan medoxomil 40mg). The product is expected to be included on the national lists of compensated drugs benefiting patients as it will be made available at an affordable price.

 Commenting on the product introduction, Arun Sawhney, CEO & MD, Ranbaxy said, “Terapia Ranbaxy is committed to offer safe and affordable medicines to its customers and patients in Romania. We are pleased to introduce the first combination of olmesartan + amlodipine for the treatment of hypertension, which is a major public health problem. Leveraging synergies with Daiichi Sankyo is part of our business strategy and this will be our third product introduction as part of the Hybrid Business Model.”

“We are pleased to announce the synergistic business development with Ranbaxy in Romania,” said Joji Nakayama, President & CEO of Daiichi Sankyo. “We are determined to work with Ranbaxy to further serve diversifying medical needs in this strongly emerging region.”

Sevikar® is a once-daily, single pill fixed dose combination (FDC) of the angiotensin receptor blocker olmesartan medoxomil, an antihypertensive originally discovered by Daiichi Sankyo, and the calcium channel blocker amlodipine besylate. The new product is indicated for the treatment of hypertensive patients inadequately controlled on monotherapy regimes (olmesartan or amlodipine alone). This unique combination provides safe blood pressure decline effect through the complementary actions of its two ingredients. This combination therapy is well tolerated and is associated with a lower incidence of side effects, such as oedema, compared to monotherapy with high amlodipine dosages (10 mg).

Essential hypertension is a major health concern in Romania and is prevalent in over 40% of the adult population; the rate is double that observed across Europe.

The pharmaceutical market in Romania is valued at about USD 3.3 billion (EUR 2.3 billion), with the cardiovascular segment being a major contributor with sales of USD 271 Mn in 2011 (EUR 195 Mn).

Terapia Ranbaxy has established itself as the largest generics company and one of the nine largest pharmaceutical companies in Romania.