Organon Buys Rights to Certain Bayer Contraceptive Products in China

By Michael Dabaie

Organon & Co. said it acquired the rights from Bayer AG to Marvelon and Mercilon, combined oral hormonal daily contraceptive pills, in the People's Republic of China, including Hong Kong and Macau.

Organon said it also entered into an agreement to acquire the rights to these products in Vietnam.

Marvelon and Mercilon are already owned, manufactured, and marketed by Organon as prescription oral contraceptives in 20 other markets. This acquisition gives Organon full global ownership of these brands, except in South Korea, by reacquiring the rights to them in these markets.

Organon said it expects the agreement to acquire the rights in Vietnam to close in the first half of 2022.

Marvelon is currently available over the counter in China and both Marvelon and Mercilon are available over the counter in Hong Kong and Macau. Marvelon and Mercilon are currently available by prescription in Vietnam.

Both contraceptives were acquired by Bayer AG in these markets from Merck & Co. Inc. in 2014 as part of the sale of Merck & Co.'s consumer care business. Organon was formed through a spin-off from Merck.

Marvelon and Mercilon aren't available in the U.S.

Write to Michael Dabaie at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 16, 2022 09:19 ET (14:19 GMT)

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