Sun Pharma

Sun Pharmaceuticals was founded by Dilip Shanghvi in 1983[8] in Vapi, Gujarat, with five products to treat psychiatry ailments. Cardiology products were introduced in 1987[9] followed by gastroenterology products in 1989. Today it is ranked number one by prescriptions with nine different specialties of doctors in[10] India and a market leader in cardiology, gastroenterology, ortho, diabetology, dermatology, urology, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.[11]

The 2014 acquisition of Ranbaxy made Sun Pharma the largest pharma company in India, the largest Indian pharma company in the US, and the 4th[5] largest specialty generic company globally.

Over 72% of Sun Pharma sales are from markets outside India, primarily in the United States. The US is the single largest market, accounting for about 30% of the company's turnover;[12] in all, formulations or finished dosage forms, account for 93% of the turnover. Manufacturing is across 44 global locations in India, the US, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe. In the United States, the company markets a large basket of generics, with a strong pipeline awaiting approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).[13]

Sun Pharma was listed on the stock exchange in 1994 in an issue oversubscribed 55 times. The founding family continues to hold a majority stake in the company.[14]

Sun Pharma has complemented growth with select acquisitions over the last two decades. In 1996, Sun purchased a bulk drug manufacturing plant at Ahmednagar from Knoll Pharmaceuticals and MJ Pharma's dosage plant at Halol that are both U.S. FDA approved today. In 1997, Sun Pharma acquired Tamil Nadu Dadha Pharmaceuticals Limited (TDPL) based in Chennai, mainly for their extensive gynaecology and oncology brands. Also in 1997, Sun Pharma initiated their first foray into the lucrative US market with the acquisition of Caraco Pharmaceuticals, based in Detroit.

In 1998, Sun acquired a number of respiratory brands from Natco Pharma. Other notable acquisitions include Milmet Labs and Gujarat Lyka Organics (1999), Pradeep Drug Company (2000), Phlox Pharma (2004), a formulation plant at Bryan, Ohio and ICN, Hungary from Valeant Pharma and Able Labs (2005), and Chattem Chemicals (2008). In 2010, the company acquired a large stake in Taro Pharmaceuticals,[15] amongst the largest generic dermatology companies in the US, with operations across Canada and Israel. The company currently owns ~ 69% stake in Taro, for about $260 million.[16]

In 2011, Sun Pharma entered into a joint venture with MSD to bring complex or differentiated generics to emerging markets (other than India).[17]

In 2012, Sun announced acquisitions of two US companies: DUSA Pharmaceuticals,[18] a dermatology device company; and generic pharma company URL Pharma [19] In 2013, the company announced an R&D joint venture for ophthalmology with the research company, Intrexon.[20]

On 6 April 2014, Sun Pharma acquired Ranbaxy in a US$4 billion landmark transaction to create the world's 5th largest specialty generic pharmaceutical company.[21]

Then Sun Pharma entered into a licensing agreement with Merck & Co. Inc. for Tildrakizumab (MK- 3222) in order to further strengthen the specialty product pipeline.[22]

To access sterile injectable capacity in the US, it acquired Pharmalucence in the US in the same year.[23]

In December 2014, the Competition Commission of India approved Sun Pharma's $3.2 billion bid to buy Ranbaxy Laboratories, but ordered the firms to divest seven products to ensure the deal doesn't harm competition.[24][25]

In March 2015, Sun Pharma announced it had agreed to buy GlaxoSmithKline's opiates business in Australia to strengthen its pain management portfolio.[25]

The following year Sun Pharma made some significant acquisitions, including 14 brands from Novartis in Japan to enter the Japanese market.[26]

It acquired Ocular Technologies, Sarl to strengthen its branded ophthalmic portfolio and also acquired Biosintez to enhance its presence in the Russian market.[5]

From 2016 to 2018, Sun Pharma launched some of its new products in the USA.[9] It launched its first branded ophthalmic product, BromSite™ in 2016.[27] In 2017, the company launched its specialty product Odomzo[28] and then in 2018 another specialty product Ilumya™ (tildrakizumab-asmn) was launched to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.[29]

In 2019, Sun Pharma acquired Pola Pharma in Japan to strengthen its global dermatology presence.[30] The company entered the Greater China market by partnering with China Medical System Holdings[31] as well as launched a speciality product, Cequa, in the United States for the treatment of dry eyes.[32]

In 2023, Sun Pharma to acquired 60% stake in animal healthcare company - Vivaldis Animal Health and Foods Pvt ltd. Sun Pharma Management said it will acquire a 60 percent stake in Vivaldis Health And Foods Private Ltd from its existing shareholders for Rs 143.30 crore.[33] In October 2023, Sun Pharma management said it would acquire a 38% stake in EzeRx Health Tech Private Ltd. for Rs 28.69 crore[34] and a 4.04% stake in Agasta Software for Rs 4.5 crore.[35]

In 2007, Sun Pharma demerged its innovative R&D arm, and listed it separately on the stock market as the Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company Ltd. (NSE: SPARC, BSE: 532872). In 2013, SPARC declared revenue of ₹873 million.[36] SPARC focuses on new chemical entities (NCE) research and new drug delivery systems and offers an annual update[37] of its pipeline (NDDS).[38]

Sun Pharma stood second in the India's Most Reputed Brands (Pharmaceutical) list [39] in a study conducted by BlueBytes,[40] a leading Media Analytics firm in association with TRA Research,[41] a brand insights organization (both a part of the Comniscient Group).