Brazil's EMS acquires Medley for R$3.6 billion, targets US market after 2030

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Brazil's EMS acquires Medley for R$3.6 billion, targets US market after 2030

Home/Pharma News | Posted 06/05/2026 0 Post your comment

Brazilian pharmaceutical giant EMS has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Medley, a generics unit owned by French healthcare company Sanofi, in a deal worth approximately R$3.6 billion. The acquisition sets the stage for EMS to enter the United States generics market after 2030, according to the company's chief executive.

The deal, which requires approval from Brazil's antitrust authority (CADE), would give EMS an estimated 30% share of Brazil's generic drug market, according to a joint press release from EMS and Sanofi.

‘This acquisition reinforces our commitment to expanding access to high-quality medicines in Brazil’, a company spokesperson said.

Back in October 2024, EMS proposed a partnership with competitor Hypera Pharma, setting a course to become Brazil's largest drug manufacturer [1]. That proposal did not materialize as Hypera Pharma's board of directors unanimously rejected the unsolicited merger offer, stating that it ‘significantly undervalued’ the company. The Medley acquisition now achieves a similar outcome through a different path.

But the long-term goal extends far beyond Brazil. Thiago Tavares, CEO of Grupo NC (EMS's holding company), said in interviews following the announcement that the Medley deal is a platform for international growth. While the company is focused on Latin America and Eastern Europe for the medium term, the ultimate goal is to enter the US market after 2030.

Tavares confirmed that EMS will actively look for further acquisitions in markets where it already has a foothold, specifically naming Mexico and Eastern Europe as immediate targets.

The acquisition of Medley – once a fierce rival in the Brazilian market – marks the end of Sanofi's direct involvement in local generics production. For EMS, it represents a turning point from a national champion to a Latin American powerhouse with aspirations to become a global generics player.

The deal is currently awaiting final approval from Brazilian regulators.

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Reference
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. EMS proposes merger with Hypera to form Brazil's largest drugmaker [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2026 May 6]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/pharma-news/ems-proposes-merger-with-hypera-to-form-brazil-s-largest-drugmaker

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