Baur & Co. Ltd, also known as Baurs, one of the country’s leading conglomerates with diversified business interests, recently entered a partnership for the distribution of the multinational pharmaceutical company GSK’s prescription medicines and vaccines in Sri Lanka.

During the latter part of last year, GSK announced its intention to wind down its commercial business in Sri Lanka. With this new alliance, both Baurs and GSK reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the people of the country and ensure patients have uninterrupted access to GSK’s safe, effective and high-quality medications.

In marking the partnership, an event was held on 09th May 2023 at the Lotus Ballroom, Shangri-La Colombo. Baurs Managing Director/CEO Rolf Blaser and GSK Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer and Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives Manoj Jayawardena gave their opening speeches, followed by an official handing over ceremony, together with Baurs Director Healthcare, Nishantha Weerasinghe and Director Baur Life Sciences, Gehan Seneviratne. The event also saw the participation of the board, project teams, and HoDs of both Baurs and GSK Sri Lanka.

Baurs has a distinctive reputation over the decades as a highly ethical, credible and competent entity, with an extensive distribution network backed by state-of-the-art digital infrastructure and powerful business models. Through this partnership, GSK’s portfolio of science, medicine, R&D, and innovation will continue to be available to doctors and patients.

Since Baurs’ forayed into the healthcare sector in 1945, the division has evolved to one of the most sought-after agencies for surgical, diagnostic and medical nutritional products with an impeccable track record for reliability, innovation, trust, and quality. GSK’s partnership with Baurs exhibits this, on the backdrop of Baurs continuing to represent some of the largest and internationally well reputed pharmaceutical brands in Sri Lanka.

Some of the world-class healthcare brands that Baurs represent in Sri Lanka include Sanofi, Novartis, Sandoz, Nestlé Health Science, Merck, Roche, isispharma, MSD, Vitrolife, Unichem, Apex, Alcon, Vaitris, Inova, Santen, Eisai, Mega life Science, Rohto, Dexa Medica, Takeda and Ajanta Pharma among others.

Baurs will uphold its highest level of governance and compliance for end-to-end activities from manufacturer to the patient. Through its expansive distribution and robust marketing competencies, the company hopes to further enhance product availability across the island, complying with industry standards in cold chain management.

With a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease, GSK’s aims to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of 2030. These bold ambitions for patients are reflected in commitments to growth and a step change in performance.

GSK is prioritising research into vaccines and medicines across four core therapeutic areas: infectious diseases, HIV, oncology, and immunology. At the heart of enabling this work is its R&D focus on the science of the immune system, human genetics, and advanced technologies.

In the Sri Lankan context, GSK is the market leader in the antibiotic market with Augmentin (Amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid), and the leading supplier of vaccines for many therapeutic areas in pediatric and adult vaccination, including Seretide (Salmeterol, Fluticasone propionate), the leading brand in its respiratory portfolio locally.

Baurs Managing Director/CEO Rolf Blaser (second from left) exchanging the distribution agreement with GSK Executive Director/CFO and Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives Manoj Jayawardena

Seen here are the Board of Directors at Baurs with Manoj Jayawardena of GSK (centre)