Merck & Co. has formed a joint venture with Supera Farma Laboratorios, a Brazilian pharmaceutical company that is co-owned by Cristália Produtos Quimicos Farmaceuticos and Eurofarma Laboratorios. Merck, through a subsidiary, will own 51% of the joint venture, while Cristália and Eurofarma will together own the remaining 49%. The joint venture will initially market, distribute and sell approximately 30 innovative pharmaceutical and branded generic products from the three parent companies across a range of therapeutic areas. The deal represents the latest attempt by a global pharmaceutical company to exploit the fast-growing pharmaceutical market in Brazil.