U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co is close to striking a marketing alliance with Sun Pharmaceutical Industries for the Indian market, the Mint reported on Monday.

The partnership between Sun and MSD Pharmaceuticals, the Indian arm of the U.S. drugmaker, could either be a marketing joint venture or a co-marketing tie-up, the newspaper said citing sources it did not name.

An announcement was likely on Monday, it said, adding officials at both the companies declined comment.

In January, German drugmaker Bayer signed an agreement with India's Cadila Healthcare to set up a joint venture to market products locally.