MUMBAI: Generic drugmakers Lupin Ltd and Cipla Ltdare among the companies bidding for top Belgian drugmaker UCB SA`s U.S. generic drugs business, a leading dailey reported on Monday, citing unnamed people with knowledge of the matter.
Lupin and Cipla, which rank among India`s top five drugmakers by sales, submitted first-round offers in late April for UCB`s Kremers Urban Pharmaceuticals Inc unit that could be valued at about $1 billion, the report said.
A UCB spokeswoman told Reuters that a sale process involving multiple parties was ongoing, and the company hopes to reach an agreement by the end of the year.
Cipla would not comment on "product or partner discussions" but it is "constantly in discussions with multiple parties on potential collaboration opportunities", a company spokeswoman said in a statement.
A Lupin spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In November, UCB had agreed to sell the U.S. generics business to private equity groups Advent International and Avista Capital Partners for about $1.53 billion, but the deal fell through in December.
