The Mumbai-based manufacturing leader of women's health care products Famy Care Ltd has signed an agreement with Mylan to develop and supply 22 oral contraceptive (OC) medicines to customers in the United States.

The agreement also provides Mylan with a right of first refusal for additional oral contraceptive products and certain additional markets, including Australia and Japan, where Mylan has a significant presence. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"We discussed aligning Famy Care with a number of highly qualified companies, but Mylan clearly became the partner-of-choice," said Sanjeev Taparia, Famy Care's managing director. "We based our decision on Mylan's strong presence in the United States, expanded global commercial footprint and its high quality and customer service standards. Mylan is well-positioned to help us achieve the vast potential we see in our diverse women's health care product portfolio."

"We have been selling a variety of OC products in around 50 third world countries and we have been looking for a partner in the biggest pharma market in the world US. With the tie up with Mylan, we are now entering the regulated market", said Famy Care vice-president (international marketing) KR Chouhan.

Currently, total US oral contraceptive (OC) market sales are approximately $3.3 billion, according to IMS. Of the 42 OC products available, 31 are sold generically. OCs are dispensed primarily in retail pharmacies, although certain clinic channels, such as Planned Parenthood, are important, particularly for new customers.

Famy Care manufactures a wide range of reproductive health care products, including oral and emergency contraceptives, intra-uterine devices (IUDs) and tubal ligation rings. Incorporated in 1990, the company exports its products to more than 50 countries on four continents. The company has established strong manufacturing and R&D capabilities with state-of-the-art facilities throughout India.