Nycomed ‘to purchase 20 generic Sanofi-Aventis and Zentiva products’

Nycomed is set to purchase 20 branded generic products from fellow pharmaceutical firms Sanofi-Aventis and Zentiva, it has announced.

The asset transfers, which are scheduled for completion in September, apply to central and eastern European countries and will significantly strengthen Nycomed’s market stance in nations such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Nycomed’s transactions, which total 17 million euros (14.4 million pounds), have received the backing of the European commission, as well as the Czech Antimonopoly Office, and include Zentiva’s hypnotic Hypnogen (Zolpidem) brand.

Nycomed’s area manager for central and eastern Europe Frank Rotmann stated: “These brands will complement our local portfolios very well. Especially in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, this will significantly strengthen our position in primary care.”

Nycomed made a positive start to the year, it revealed in May, as its first-quarter financial results revealed that its net turnover had increased to 839.9 million euros.