INDIA — Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has announced that its subsidiary Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories SA will acquire Haleon’s global portfolio of consumer healthcare brands in the Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) category outside of the United States through purchase of shares of Northstar Switzerland SARL. The portfolio to be acquired consists of Nicotinell, a global leader in the NRT category with an extensive footprint in over 30 countries spanning Europe, Asia including Japan, and Latin America, and local market-leading brand names of the product – Nicabate in Australia, Thrive in Canada, and Habitrol in New Zealand and Canada. The proposed acquisition will be inclusive of all formats such as lozenge, patch, gum as well as pipeline products, in all applicable global markets outside of the United States.

Nicotinell is the second biggest brand globally (excluding the United States) in the NRT category. It holds the first or second position in 14 of the top 17 global markets, with the lozenge/mini lozenge format holding top position globally. Nicotinell ranks among the top 15 biggest brands among all OTC brands in Europe (excluding Russia, Italy), and ranks 32 among all OTC global brands (excluding the U.S.). In CY’23, the portfolio generated approximately GBP 217 million in revenue.

Dr. Reddy’s will acquire the share capital of Northstar Switzerland SARL for a total consideration of GBP 500 million with an upfront cash payment of GBP 458 million and performance-based contingent payments of up to GBP 42 million, payable in 2025 and 2026. The closing of the transaction is subject to satisfactory completion of customary conditions to closing, including regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in early Q4 of calendar year 2024.

Upon closing of the transaction, Dr. Reddy’s will acquire the NRT business in all countries outside of the United States. However, operations will transition to Dr. Reddy’s in a phased approach to ensure successful integration of the business.

Tobacco use causes eight million deaths every year from health consequences such as cardiovascular diseases, lung disorders, cancers, diabetes, and many other debilitating diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of the 1.3 billion tobacco users globally, as many as 60% have expressed the desire to quit; however only 30% have access to the tools to help them to do so successfully. Safe and effective medical treatments to help individuals quit tobacco are available, but not always sufficiently available or accessible.

NRT is recommended by the ‘World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines’ for nicotine use disorders. NRT also played a key role in the WHO’s ‘Access Initiative for Quitting Tobacco’ launched in 2020 to help tobacco users quit to reduce the risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection.

In line with its stated strategic intention, Dr. Reddy’s continues to focus on its core business of generics, branded generics, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), over-the-counter (OTC) products, and biosimilars. Alongside this, the company has been investing in growth drivers of the future in three areas – access to novel molecules (NCEs, NBEs, CAR-T); digital therapeutics (wearables, apps); and consumer healthcare (including nutrition and OTC wellness products). The latest proposed acquisition of Nicotinell and related portfolio gives Dr. Reddy’s a strong footprint in Europe as well as other global markets, complementing and building on its existing global presence and capabilities.

“We see the acquisition of this global portfolio of consumer healthcare products led by the global brand Nicotinell as a logical extension of our efforts in consumer healthcare OTC in recent years, and of our purpose of ‘Good Health Can’t Wait’. We have been steadily building our OTC presence in various markets and investing in our capabilities. As a business, consumer healthcare is a growing and sustainable business with favourable long-term trends. The business to be acquired from Haleon has maintained steady sales and strong profitability over the years. The portfolio is attractive for its customer loyalty, its global nature, and the access it provides to key customers. We believe we can unlock more value, grow the portfolio further, and increase consumer access around the world to these global brands. Given these advantages, it is the ideal anchor around which to build a larger global OTC platform,” said Erez Israeli, CEO of Dr. Reddy’s.