The consumer products division of
Piramal Enterprises Ltd has acquired trademark rights for five over-the-counter
(OTC) drugs for India from Organon India Pvt. Ltd and MSD BV, Indian
subsidiaries of US based pharmaceutical leader Merck and Co, for a consideration
of Rs.92 crore.
The acquisition includes the brands
Naturolax, Lactobacil and Farizym, which Piramal Enterprises intends to
continue in the OTC business in the gastro-intestinal segment. The Indian OTC
Market is approximately Rs. 15,000 crore in size and grew 13-14% in 2014. Last month,
Piramal Enterprises had acquired 100% stake in Little India, the country’s oldest
baby care products brand, for an undisclosed amount.
Piramal Enterprises consumer
division owns popular brands such as Lacto Calamine Lotion, Caladryl, antacid
brand Polycrol and headache drug Saridon. The company entered the OTC market
with the acquisition of Saridon from Roche Holding AG and Lacto Calamine from Duphar
Interfran Ltd in the early 1990s. They were followed up by joint venture with
Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc. and Boots Plc. to get their OTC range to India.
Piramal entry into pharmaceuticals
came around 1988 when the company acquired Nicholas Laboratories Ltd. for Rs.
1.6 crore at a time when most multinational drug makers were exiting India.
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