Biotechnology company Amgen is acquiring Brazil-based pharmaceutical company Bergamo and is re-acquiring rights to its products in Brazil from the company Hypermarcas. The products being re-acquired by Thousand Oaks-based Amgen were previously granted to Mantecorp, which was subsequently acquired by Hypermarcas. The transactions are expected to provide Amgen a significant presence in Brazil and immediate, direct access to its fast-growing pharmaceutical market. Bergamo supplies medicines to the hospital sector in Brazil with capabilities in oncology medicine. The acquired company, which has manufacturing facilities in Sao Paulo state, had gross revenues of $80 million in 2010 and has been growing at an annual rate of 19 percent since 2007. Amgen has gained full ownership of Bergamo by purchasing it for about $215 million. Through Amgen’s agreement in principle with Hypermarcas, the local company will re-acquire the rights in Brazil to several of its innovative medicines. Those include Victibix (panitumumab), Mimpara (cinacalcet) and romiplostim, which is registered as Nplate in the United states. Victibix and Mimpara area already approved in Brazil, while Nplate is under review by ANVISA, Brazil’s regulatory authority. Nplate is a treatment for the blood disorder ITP. “Amgen’s strategic goal is to make our innovative medicines available to patients in major markets around the world,” said Kevin Sharer, chairman and CEO of Amgen. “Acquiring Bergamo, a profitable company with an established local infrastructure, and regaining the rights to our products in Brazil, provides us an attractive entry into the Brazilian market.” Amgen’s focus on Brazil is part of a wider international expansion strategy for Amgen. Amgen cites Brazil as one of the top 10 pharmaceutical markets in the world and a market that has been growing at rate of about 12 percent per year. Brazil is expected to be the world’s fifth largest pharmaceutical market by 2015, Amgen said.
Amgen Creates Brazil Presence Through Acquisition Deals
