MORGANTOWN — Mylan and Upjohn revealed the logo for their new combined company – Viatris – on Thursday and explained a bit more about their vision for the new venture.
One of the first things to learn from their joint release is that Viatris is pronounced to rhyme with the name Beatrice. It is Latin for “three paths.” (Upjohn’s similar-looking Viagra is unrelated and is pronounced to rhyme with Niagara.)
The three paths, they said, are commitment to access, leadership and partnership. The logos shows that “the three paths work together in harmony and encircle a simplified globe to illustrate the company’s core purpose of empowering people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life.”
They summarized their vision: “Viatris’ platform will provide a unique Global Healthcare Gateway that will offer partners ready access to more markets and patients worldwide.”
Knowledgeable people speaking on background explained that. The “platform” is Mylan’s global infrastructure. That infrastructure fuels or underpins the Gateway.
The Global Healthcare Gateway (a trademarked name) is a means for business partners that lack global market reach or manufacturing scale – small to midsize pharmaceutical companies or biotech startups for example – access to that infrastructure in order to bring more products to more people.
Future Viatris Executive Chairman and current Mylan Executive Chairman Robert J. Coury said, “Viatris will be focused on creating a more sustainable healthcare journey for patients worldwide while delivering value to all stakeholders for years to come.
“The Viatris branding reflects our drive to address the world’s emerging healthcare needs with passion and compassion,” he said. “It also highlights our goal to chart a new course focused on improving patient outcomes by expanding access to medicine, providing leadership through innovative solutions and building best-in-class partnerships.”
Future Viatris CEO and current Upjohn Group President Michael Goettlersaid, “Our new branding exemplifies that we are building a new kind of company designed for where the healthcare industry is going.”
Mylan shareholders approved the merger transaction at Mylan’s Extraordinary General Meeting on June 30. The union is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020, subject to the satisfaction of certain remaining closing conditions, they said.
Upjohn is a Pfizer subsidiary that markets 20 off-patent name drugs such as Lipitor, Norvasc, Lyrica and Viagra and operates in more than 120 countries.
Mylan has a portfolio of more than 7,500 products, operates in more than 165 countries and territories and has a workforce of about 35,000.
Viatris will have a total workforce of about 45,000 and operate 51 manufacturing facilities, including Morgantown.
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