A cautionary announcement released by South African drugmaker Aspen Pharmacare said it plans to acquire the facility in Oss, The Netherlands from US drugmaker Merck and Co’s European wing, MSD.
MSD confirmed this, releasing a statement via its Dutch website saying that the two companies were in talks over the intended acquisition of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) plant and related finished dose products.
At present, the plant produces approximately 55 different APIs for both MSD and other pharmaceutical companies, incorporating drugs for women’s health, endocrinology, psychiatry, anesthesia and hematology.
There are no plans, however, to sell MSD’s other manufacturing plants at the Dutch site. The Pharmaceutical Operations and Biotech manufacturing units, as well as the Development Centre will remain with MSD.
Specific details of the deal will be announced in the next month.
We originally reported that Merck was selling its last API plant based on a company statement. The company has since revised its comments with regards to its API facilities.