Latest news with #MSD
RNZ News
10 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
What does the government consider a couple, anyway?
RNZ's money correspondent Susan Edmunds answers your questions. Photo: RNZ Send your questions to How is a couple relationship determined? If two people are in a relationship but physically and financially remain independent can they remain as solo rather than as a couple? I've had lots of questions over the years about how government departments define a relationship. It can be quite tricky. From what I've seen, sometimes people who don't necessarily think of themselves as being a couple can sometimes be classified as one if they seek help from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), or other agencies. MSD says people who are married, in a civil union or de facto are counted as in a relationship. There are few things that contribute to being considered "de facto". They include being emotionally committed to each other, financially interdependent, sharing responsibilities, holidaying and socialising together, sharing bills, having a sexual relationship, supporting each other and other people thinking of them as a couple. Even if you don't live together, you could be captured, if you're apart for health reasons, financial reasons or work reasons, or because one of you needs rest home care. If you're determined to be in a relationship, the government expects you to be willing to financially support each other. My partner and I have a contracting out relationship property agreement and for practical reasons share only our living costs. In that situation, if one of us is in need of care, does the government still include both sets of assets and money? If the answer is 'yes', surely this is yet another example of how making one's own arrangements and plans again is undermined by the state for older people. In our situation it is actually not an issue in reality, but I can imagine how it might be for many others. And related to that, relationship property rules don't really kick in until a three year or so mark. Again, is that how MSD define a relationship? There is not a relationship duration test, and your contracting out agreement will not make a difference unless you have actually separated and are no longer a couple. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Abbott to distribute MSD's diabetes drug in India
Abbott and MSD Pharmaceuticals have entered into a distribution agreement for MSD's oral anti-diabetic medicine sitagliptin, its combination sitagliptin/metformin and the extended-release version in India. Leveraging its broad footprint in the country Abbott will distribute the portfolio. The products are marketed under brand names Januvia, Janumet and Janumet XR, the companies said in a joint statement. Sitagliptin is a Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitors used for treatment of Type 2 diabetes. It was discovered and developed by MSD Pharmaceuticals and the first DPP4i to be launched in India in 2008. The brands under this portfolio continue to be among the leaders in the category, even after loss of exclusivity, they said. 'Through our extensive presence, we can help people in India better manage their Type 2 diabetes and take control of their health,' V-P of Abbott in India Ambati Venu said. MSD India Region Managing Director Rehan A. Khan said, 'Our partnership with Abbott establishes a sustainable business model that will enable us to continue to serve patients throughout India with these diabetes treatments.'
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Abbott, MSD join hands to distribute key diabetic drug across India
Two multinational drug makers—Abbott and MSD Pharmaceuticals—have announced a strategic collaboration to distribute the anti-diabetic medicine sitagliptin and its combinations in India. MSD's sitagliptin and its combinations are marketed in India under the brand names Januvia, Janumet, and Janumet XR. The two American pharmaceutical giants will join hands to leverage Abbott's extensive Indian footprint to distribute this widely used diabetes medication. Sitagliptin, a DPP4 inhibitor used to treat Type 2 diabetes, was launched by MSD in India in 2008. Following the patent expiry in mid-2022, several Indian drugmakers introduced generic versions of the molecule. The sitagliptin market in India is estimated to be worth ₹950–1,000 crore, forming a significant share of the country's ₹20,700 crore diabetes market. MSD said in a statement that its sitagliptin brands continue to be among the leaders in the segment, even after the loss of exclusivity. Before patent expiry, MSD had partnered with Sun Pharmaceutical Industries under a licensing agreement to distribute the drug in India. At that time, there were only four to five sitagliptin brands in the market, including Istavel and Istamet marketed by Sun Pharma. However, post-expiry, the market was flooded with over 150 brands from more than 60 pharmaceutical companies. MSD and Abbott's partnership aims to strengthen the reach of the innovator brands in a competitive market. In India, at least 60 per cent of deaths are attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer being the leading causes. The country has an estimated 101 million people with diabetes and 136 million people who are pre-diabetic—at heightened risk of developing the disease in the future. 'As the largest diversified healthcare company in India, Abbott is uniquely positioned to address some of the most pressing health challenges, particularly non-communicable diseases, which contribute to a considerable burden on the healthcare system,' said Ambati Venu, vice-president, Abbott India. He added, 'We offer a wide range of solutions to help people manage diabetes more effectively—including testing, continuous glucose monitoring, nutrition, and a complete diabetes medicines portfolio. Through our extensive presence, we can help people in India better manage their Type 2 diabetes and take control of their health.' Rehan A Khan, managing director, MSD India Region, stated, 'Since its introduction in India over 17 years ago, our sitagliptin portfolio has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients across the country and has earned the trust of both doctors and patients. Our partnership with Abbott establishes a sustainable business model that will enable us to continue serving patients throughout India with these diabetes treatments.'
Hans India
3 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Abbott and MSD Announce Strategic Partnership to Distribute Innovative Oral Anti-Diabetic Medicines in India
Abbott and MSD Pharmaceuticals (tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA) are announcing a strategic collaboration through a distribution agreement for MSD's oral anti-diabetic medicine, Sitagliptin, its combination, Sitagliptin/Metformin, and the extended-release version in India. Under this agreement, Abbott will distribute this portfolio, leveraging its broad in-country footprint to continue to make these medicines available to people in India. MSD's Sitagliptin, its combination, and extended-release versions are marketed under the brand names Januvia, Janumet and Janumet XR. Sitagliptin is a DPP4i or Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitor, used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. It was discovered and developed by MSD Pharmaceuticals and was the first DPP4i to be launched in India in 2008. The brands under this portfolio continue to be among the leaders in the category, even after loss of exclusivity. In India, at least 60 per cent of deaths are attributed to non-communicable diseases or NCDs. Amongst these, the leading causes are diabetes, cardiovascular conditions and cancer. The country has an estimated 101 million people with diabetes, and 136 million people who are pre-diabetic, and are at a higher risk of developing diabetes in the future. 'As the largest diversified healthcare company in India, Abbott is uniquely positioned to address some of the most pressing health challenges, particularly non-communicable diseases, which contribute to a considerable burden on the healthcare system,' said Ambati Venu, Vice President for Abbott in India. He further added, 'We offer a wide range of solutions to help people manage diabetes more effectively, including testing, continuous glucose monitoring, nutrition and a complete diabetes medicines portfolio. Through our extensive presence, we can help people in India better manage their Type 2 diabetes and take control of their health.' Rehan A. Khan, Managing Director, MSD India Region stated, 'Since its introduction in India over 17 years ago, our sitagliptin portfolio has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients across the country and has earned the trust of both doctors and patients. Our partnership with Abbott establishes a sustainable business model that will enable us to continue to serve patients throughout India with these diabetes treatments.'
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Economic Times
Abbott, MSD Pharmaceuticals ink distribution pact for oral anti-diabetic medicines in India
IANS Oral anti-diabetic medicines (Representational Image) Abbott and MSD Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday announced a partnership for distribution of oral anti-diabetic medicines in India. Under a distribution agreement, Abbott will distribute the oral anti-diabetic medicine sitagliptin, its combination sitagliptin/metformin and the extended-release version of MSD Pharmaceuticals (MSD) in India, the two companies said in a joint statement. MSD's sitagliptin, its combination and extended-release versions are marketed under the brand names Januvia, Janumet and Janumet XR. Abbott will leverage its broad in-country footprint to continue to make these medicines available to people in India, the statement said. MSD India Region Managing Director, Rehan A Khan, said that since its introduction in India over 17 years ago, the sitagliptin portfolio has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients across the country and has earned the trust of both doctors and patients. "Our partnership with Abbott establishes a sustainable business model that will enable us to continue to serve patients throughout India with these diabetes treatments," he added. India has an estimated 101 million people with diabetes, and 136 million people who are pre-diabetic, and are at a higher risk of developing diabetes in the future, the statement said. Being a large diversified healthcare company in India, Abbott is uniquely positioned to address some of the most pressing health challenges, particularly non-communicable diseases, which contribute to a considerable burden on the healthcare system, Ambati Venu, vice president for Abbott in India, said. "We offer a wide range of solutions to help people manage diabetes more effectively, including testing, continuous glucose monitoring, nutrition and a complete diabetes medicines portfolio. Through our extensive presence, we can help people in India better manage their Type 2 diabetes and take control of their health," he added. Sitagliptin is a Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitor (DPP4i) used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. It was discovered and developed by MSD Pharmaceuticals and was the first DPP4i to be launched in India in 2008. The brands under this portfolio continue to be among the leaders in the category, even after the loss of exclusivity, the statement said.
