Sun Pharma – South African trademarks

Updated 8 November 2026

Sun Pharma is an Indian pharmaceutical company and one of the world's largest makers of generic medicines, with specialty and consumer health products as well.

How Sun Pharma has built and protected its brands in South Africa – its trademark portfolio, where it expanded, how quickly its marks are registered, and who it competes with.

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#133largest trademark owner in South Africa (of 121,626)
414trademarks filed
6different logos published since 2020
5of 45 classes used
1996first trademark filed
120filed in the last 10 years

Sun Pharma trademarks in 45 seconds

Sun Pharma trademarks in 45 seconds

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/sun-pharma-south-african-trademarks/overview-video.html

A portfolio built over time

Sun Pharma filed its first South African trademark in 1996 and has filed 414 since; its busiest year was 2016, with 29 new filings. The chart shows its filings per year from 1970.

Trademarks by filing year, up to 2024; applications still pending are not included.

The names behind the portfolio

Over the years the group has filed under several names – earlier company names, holding companies and subsidiaries. We count them together.

NameMarksFiling years
Sun Pharma3101996–2025
Ranbaxy Laboratories2251997–2015
Sun Pharmaceutical12005–2005

Where Sun Pharma expanded its business

Trademark classes show what a business sells. Sun Pharma's portfolio is concentrated in pharmaceuticals (class 5), medical devices (class 10), advertising & retail (class 35). Its most recent moves were into advertising & retail (2019), medical devices (2011), medical & beauty care (2011).

Sun Pharma trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2025

Sun Pharma trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2025

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/sun-pharma-south-african-trademarks/class-expansion-video.html

Each tile is a class; it lights up when the group first files in it and darkens with more filings; the dots show how many of its closest rivals also file in that class. The chart compares the number of classes used with its rivals. The video runs from 1970; classes entered earlier are lit from the start.

ClassMarksShareSince
5 Pharmaceuticals40096.6%1996
10 Medical devices92.2%2011
35 Advertising & retail20.5%2019
42 Tech & IT services20.5%1996
44 Medical & beauty care10.2%2011

The brands Sun Pharma protects most

The word marks and logo names Sun Pharma has filed most often – the same brand filed in more classes, in more versions or again over the years.

#BrandTrademarksClassesFiled
1SUN PHARMA652011–2019
2INFUGEM222018–2018
3RANBAXY221996–1996
4RAZTROL212021–2021
5ABARINE112016–2016
6ABISKIT112010–2010
7ABITIG112016–2016
8ABIZOLE112010–2010
9ACTOBONE112008–2008
10ADANIF XL112010–2010
11ADDWISE112018–2018
12ADOSINE112007–2007
13ALAPREN112005–2005
14AMLOVAL112011–2011
15AMONAIL112018–2018

Logos filed most often (since 2020)

Sun Pharma trademark logo
1 filing · 1 class
Sun Pharma trademark logo
1 filing · 1 class
Sun Pharma trademark logo
1 filing · 1 class
Sun Pharma trademark logo
1 filing · 1 class
Sun Pharma trademark logo
1 filing · 1 class
Sun Pharma trademark logo
1 filing · 1 class

Sun Pharma's logos

The 6 different logos Sun Pharma has had published since 2020 – each logo shown once, however many classes or versions it was filed in. Logos protected in more classes come first.

How quickly its trademarks are registered

Over the last five years, Sun Pharma's marks took a median of 1.9 years from filing to registration, faster than the market's 2.7 years. Most of that time is examination: 1.0 years from filing to acceptance (market: 1.9). Registration itself follows about half a year after acceptance.

Median years from filing to registration per registration year, split into examination (filing → acceptance) and acceptance → registration; the dashed line is the market median. A high recent value means older applications came through that year.

Who files the most in Sun Pharma's classes

Ranked by number of trademarks filed in Sun Pharma's main classes – any company that files there, whatever else it does (including retailers' own brands). This shows Sun Pharma's market position, not who is most like it.

In the last five years, Sun Pharma was #13 of 2,050 filers in class 5 (pharmaceuticals), with 48 of 6,111 trademarks.

Sun Pharma's share of all trademarks filed in each of its main classes, per filing year.

Top trademark filers in class 5 (pharmaceuticals), South Africa 1975–2024: Sun Pharma

Top trademark filers in class 5 (pharmaceuticals), South Africa 1975–2024: Sun Pharma

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/sun-pharma-south-african-trademarks/class-5-race-video.html

Main competitors – the companies most like Sun Pharma

Ranked by how similar their whole trademark portfolio is to Sun Pharma's – the same mix of classes and the same words in their marks – not by size. Large filers in its classes that do something different rank lower here.

Sun Pharma trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024

Sun Pharma trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/sun-pharma-south-african-trademarks/competitors-video.html

Trademark filings per year: Sun Pharma (orange) and its five closest competitors.

#CompanyRelationshipSimilarity
1Ascendis–100%
2Akacia Medical–100%
3Martin & Martin–100%
4Alkem Laboratories–70%
5Teva Pharmaceuticals–70%
6Austell Pharmaceuticals–70%
7Sandoz–70%
8Acino Pharma–70%
9Forrester Pharma–70%
10Abex Pharmaceutica–70%

Similarity of trademark activity since 2015 (classes and words used in marks). Retailers appear where their own brands compete on the shelf.

Sun Pharma – relevant export countries

South Africa exported US$729 m of the goods Sun Pharma's main classes cover in the last year – medicinal; preparations and substances; pharmaceutical preparations; dietary supplements (class 5); medical devices; suture materials; medical apparatus and instruments (class 10). Combining where these goods are exported, imported, growing and made (and copied), and what protection costs, these are the markets where Sun Pharma's trademarks matter most.

Adjust the weightings

These weightings decide how the countries below are ranked. Change any value and the others adjust to keep the total at 100%.

Worldwide

#MarketScoreSA exportsImport growth / yrRouteCost, 2 classes
1United States of America73US$20 m+1%NationalUS$1,400
2European Union72US$39 m+3%NationalUS$1,594
3China66US$1.7 m+0%NationalUS$505
4United Kingdom61US$12 m-2%NationalUS$833
5Japan60US$722 k-3%NationalUS$893
6Australia60US$24 m-4%NationalUS$1,300
7Namibia57US$113 m+12%ARIPOUS$290
8Canada56US$1.8 m+1%NationalUS$1,338
9Türkiye53US$2.5 m+5%NationalUS$841
10Hong Kong SAR53US$1.3 m+2%NationalUS$807

Africa

#MarketScoreSA exportsImport growth / yrRouteCost, 2 classes
1Namibia57US$113 m+12%ARIPOUS$290 S&Z
2Zimbabwe53US$76 m+12%ARIPOUS$290 S&Z
3Nigeria52US$15 m-4%NationalUS$406 S&Z
4Botswana52US$93 m-2%ARIPOUS$290 S&Z
5Mozambique48US$47 m+4%ARIPOUS$290 S&Z
6Egypt48US$300 k+1%NationalUS$950
7OAPI (17 states)48US$13 m+4%NationalUS$1,009 S&Z
8Malawi47US$15 m+16%ARIPOUS$290 S&Z
9Morocco45US$406 k+12%NationalUS$856
10Tanzania45US$7.0 m-8%ARIPOUS$290 S&Z

SA exports = South Africa's exports of these goods to the market in the last year. Ranked with the default weightings. Score 0–100 from South Africa's exports of the goods to the market, net imports, import growth, foreign trademark filings, where the goods are made, market size and the cost of protection. Costs are total fees (official and professional) to file in 2 classes; ARIPO costs are per country, plus US$269 once per ARIPO application; S&Z = S&Z's own all-in price. Goods are taken from the classes and specifications, so the ranking is indicative.

Trade data: CEPII BACI (version 202601, trade flows 2022–2024), Licence Etalab 2.0; aggregated and combined with other data by S&Z.

Protecting its top brands in Nigeria and OAPI with S&Z

BrandClassesNigeriaOAPI (17 states)
SUN PHARMA5US$1,015US$1,563
INFUGEM2US$406US$1,009
RANBAXY2US$406US$1,009
RAZTROL1US$203US$824
ABARINE1US$203US$824

S&Z all-in prices per brand in its number of classes, filing to registration.

TM Country Selection  Rank the countries for your own goods and get the quotes.

Word marks you may have considered opposing

For Sun Pharma's five most-filed brands: word marks of other companies (not Sun Pharma's own group) that our similar word mark search, SimTM, found in the brand's own classes, and that we consider confusingly similar – from the earliest match found to today.

Similar to SUN PHARMA (classes 5, 10, 35, 42, 44; searched 2018-02-28 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to INFUGEM (classes 5, 10; searched 2020-06-24 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to RANBAXY (classes 5, 42; no close matches in the search)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found.

Similar to RAZTROL (class 5; searched 2019-02-27 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to ABARINE (class 5; searched 2018-04-25 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similarity of the words only. Whether a mark could have been opposed depends on the goods and services, the reputation of the brand and the facts – S&Z can advise. New marks like these are what SimTM watch reports as they are published.

How S&Z can help you

S&Z does not just file trademarks. We are a technology-first firm that manages trademarks – analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected.

We manage your trademarks – not just file them

Analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected:

Renewal managementEvery renewal date in your portfolio tracked and paid online.
Competitor watchGet real-time competitor analysis.
Similar-mark watchNew word marks that come close to yours, found as they are published using SimTM.
Expansion into AfricaLowest-cost trademark expansion into Africa - Nigeria, OAPI.

Filing and renewal at fixed, all-inclusive prices

S&Z prices – South African trademarks

Filing, first class – incl. official fee, examination report, routine office action, acceptance, publication, registration and e-certificateUS$240
Each additional class of the same mark, filed at the same timeUS$225
Renewal online, per class (every 10 years from filing)R1,027
≈ US$62.29

Renewal in rand; US$ at R16.49 per US$.

Sun Pharma's next five years of renewals

137 of Sun Pharma's registered marks reach their ten-year renewal date in 2027–2031. Renewed online with S&Z, that costs about US$8,533 over the five years.

Sun Pharma: frequently asked questions

What should Sun Pharma consider for its trademarks?
  • Where to file next: its goods sell strongly in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Nigeria – markets where South African exports of the same goods are large or growing, and where S&Z files at its own all-in prices (see “Sun Pharma – relevant export countries”).
  • Possible gaps: its competitors also protect class 3 (cosmetics & cleaning), class 30 (coffee, flour & sweets) – worth checking against what the business sells or plans to sell.
  • Brand coverage: Infugem, Ranbaxy, Raztrol, Abarine are protected in only one or two classes – check whether related goods or services (for example merchandise or online services) need cover too.
  • Fewer new brands: new brand names fell from 15.6 to 9.2 a year – worth reviewing whether planned launches are being protected early enough.
  • Renewals and use: keep track of the ten-year renewal dates and of marks that are no longer used – unused marks can be challenged after five years, and some may no longer be worth renewing.
Which of Sun Pharma's brands have been protected the longest?
Several of Sun Pharma's brands have been protected for generations and are still being filed today: SUN PHARMA (first filed 2011, most recently 2019). Brands that are refiled over decades – in new classes, new logos or updated packaging – keep their protection current as the business changes.
How many new brands does Sun Pharma launch each year?
Counting only brand names it had never filed before, Sun Pharma filed about 9.2 new brand names a year over the last five complete years, fewer than the 15.6 a year in the five years before; its busiest year in the last decade was 2016, with 28. Its closest competitors averaged 6.5 new brand names a year over the same period (Ascendis 3.0, Akacia Medical 0.2, Martin & Martin 4.2, Alkem Laboratories 8.0, Teva Pharmaceuticals 17.0). New brand names are a good indicator of product launches and innovation.
How broadly does Sun Pharma protect each brand?
Sun Pharma has filed 401 different brand names. 99% of them are protected in a single class, while 1 cover five classes or more – the widest is SUN PHARMA, in 5 classes. A brand used beyond its core product (merchandise, services, related goods) needs protection in each of those classes: in South Africa each class is a separate application.
When in the year does Sun Pharma usually file trademarks?
Over the last ten years, Sun Pharma filed most often in May (25% of its filings), January (12%) and August (10%); the busiest quarter was Q2 (36%). Filing well before a launch matters: rights in South Africa date from the filing date, and examination can take more than a year.
Which classes do Sun Pharma's competitors protect that Sun Pharma does not?
Several of Sun Pharma's closest competitors have filed since 2015 in classes Sun Pharma has never used: class 3 (cosmetics & cleaning, 2 of its top five competitors); class 30 (coffee, flour & sweets, 2 of its top five competitors). These are not necessarily gaps – they may reflect different products – but they are worth reviewing against the goods and services the business actually offers or plans.
How long do Sun Pharma's South African trademarks last, and when must they be renewed?
A South African trademark registration lasts ten years from the filing date and can be renewed for further ten-year periods indefinitely. Renewal can be paid in the months before the due date, and a six-month grace period applies after it, with a late-payment fee; a mark that is not renewed is removed from the register. A registered mark can also be challenged if it has not been used for five years or more, so use matters as much as renewal.
Do Sun Pharma's South African trademarks protect its brands elsewhere in Africa?
No – trademarks are territorial, and a South African registration covers South Africa only. South Africa is not a member of the Madrid system, so international registration is not available to South African applicants. Protection elsewhere in Africa comes from national filings (for example Nigeria), a single OAPI registration covering 17 West and Central African states, or a regional ARIPO application designating member states such as Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. S&Z files in all of these, including Nigeria together with South Africa (SANi).
What can Sun Pharma do if someone files a mark similar to one of its brands?
When a new application is advertised for opposition, the owner of an earlier, similar mark can oppose it – in South Africa within three months of the advertisement (this period can be extended). After registration, a conflicting mark can still be challenged through rectification of the register, and use of a confusingly similar mark can be stopped through an infringement action. The key is seeing new applications in time, which is what a similar-mark watch does.
What is SimTM?
SimTM is the similar-trademark technology behind GlobalIPCo's South African trademark watching services, which S&Z uses. It identifies newly published trademarks that sound or look similar to a registered mark, at four levels of sensitivity that progressively widen the marks flagged – from the most relevant to marks of more general interest. It is fast enough to check every trademark journal as it is published, so owners can be alerted to similar marks while they can still be opposed within the three-month opposition period. The word marks listed under “Word marks you may have considered opposing” were found with SimTM's two closest levels and then reviewed, so only marks we consider confusingly similar to Sun Pharma's brands are shown.
How accurate is the information on this page?
The figures, charts and videos on this page are based on trademark and trade data obtained by S&Z, and are only as accurate as that data. Records can be incomplete, delayed or contain errors, and linking marks to Sun Pharma and its group companies involves judgement. S&Z therefore does not guarantee that all the information is 100% accurate or complete. It is a general overview, not legal advice: please contact S&Z before relying on it for a filing, renewal, opposition or other decision.