Drug maker AstraZeneca announced on Thursday that it has entered into a tie up with Indian generic drug manufacturer Torrent Pharmaceuticals too boost its kitty of low-cost medicines to be sold in the developing markets.

This is the company's first ever partnership with a generic drug maker. With this deal the company expects to balance the patent expirees it faced on some key high demand drugs.

As per the terms agreed upon, Torrent Pharma would supply 18 generic medicines made by it to AstraZeneca. The medicines would then be re-branded as AstraZeneca's to avoid any loss of brand conscious customers. Currently the deal is only for nine countries.

As per records, seven of the Anglo-Swedish drug maker's patents will expire in the next four years including its top three best sellers, Nexium for ulcer treatment, anti-psychotic drug Seroquel and anti-cholesterol medicine Crestor.

The company at present targets to increase its emerging market sales from 13 per cent of all sales to 25 per cent by the year 2014. If accomplished it would help the company reduce its patent losses to a large extent.