AstraZeneca nears second outlicensing deal —this one with Intas

London-headquartered AstraZeneca is close to signing a licensing and supply agreement with Ahmedabad-based Intas Pharmaceuticals for generic injectables, two people familiar with the development said.

Neither AstraZeneca nor Intas officials could be reached for comment.

AstraZeneca had sealed a similar deal with another Ahmedabad-based firm, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, in March this year. Under the deal, for an undisclosed value, Torrent would supply to AstraZeneca a portfolio of generic medicines for which it has licences in a range of countries.

It would initially purchase from Torrent the licenses and market authorisations for 18 products in nine countries.

“Astra’s forecast spells emerging markets’ contribution touching about 70% of its sales in five years. Licensing alliances help in providing the multinational companies with a readymade basket of generics, thereby enabling making quick margins,” said a pharma analyst from a domestic brokerage in Mumbai, who did not wish to be named.

The number of generic licensing and supply deals has been on the rise in recent times as the profitability of multinational drugmakers comes under increasing pressure due to patent expirations, pricing challenges and shrinking new pipelines.