Our OTC business has a global footprint and is slated to be a key driver of growth
Over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical business adds significant weightage to our product portfolio. We have built a strong retail presence in India and emerging markets.
Our OTC portfolio covers a range of therapeutic areas. We are targeting a host of acute conditions that can be self-treated such as cold, fever, allergies and gastroenterological disturbances.
Keeping patients at the core and aligned with our goal of serving 1.5+ billion patients by 2030, we are developing differentiated products and converting our prescription assets into OTC assets. Our OTC portfolio is expanding through in-licensing and marketing partnerships. We are increasing reach to consumers directly through e-commerce channels.
Markets
The OTC segment accounts for nearly half the retail pharmaceutical market in many markets, and we are well-placed to tap this huge opportunity for growth.
In North America, we have been in OTC segment for close to 17 years now (as of FY24) covering 4 key therapeutic areas - Gastrointestinal/Antacids, cough-cold-allergy, pain relievers and smoking cessation. In 2023 in the U.S., we forayed into the OTC wellness space with the relaunch of Premama®, an acquired portfolio of high-quality dietary supplements to support the entire motherhood journey.
In India, we have a portfolio of OTC products in the hydration, cough-cold-allergy, and skin care categories. Formed in 2019, our nutraceuticals division has a strong portfolio in the Metabolic & GI, Hospital and General Health & Wellness. Reaching customers through retail, hospital and e-commerce routes, our portfolio includes well-recognised brands such as Celevida, Celevida Liv, Celevida Maxx, Celevida EN, and Celevida DLS, together provide clinically proven differentiated nutrition products and solutions for medical nutrition. In 2021, we inaugurated a dedicated Nutraceuticals R&D centre in Bachupally, Hyderabad. The recent announcement of a joint venture with Nestlé India to bring the well-known global range of nutritional health solutions as well as vitamin, minerals, herbals and supplements of Nestlé Health Science (NHSc) to India, is another significant move to strengthen our nutrition and OTC business in India.
In Emerging Markets, we have a long-established and sizeable OTC business with market-leading products in the allergy, pain relief, gastro-intestinal and women’s health categories.
We also entered the UK consumer health market with the launch of the OTC allergy medication Histallay in 2024. In June 2024, we announced the acquisition of the global consumer healthcare brand Nicotinell and its various market-leading brand names in over 30 countries outside of the U.S. We see this acquisition as an ideal anchor platform to grow our consumer healthcare business.
