Key Summary
- Vitabiotics is a leading player in the UK's vitamins and nutraceuticals market.
- India’s nutraceutical market is growing an valued at £1.99bn.
- For Lupin, it has been a long term strategy to grow beyond generics and increase its specialty medicines business.
Indian generics major Lupin, along with private equity players EQT Partners and TPG Capital, has reportedly entered into early-stage discussions to acquire Vitabiotics, a leading player in the UK's vitamins and nutraceuticals market.
Founded in 1971 by Dr Kartar Lalvani, Vitabiotics owns leading brands such as Wellwoman, Pregnacare, Menopace, Feroglobin, Perfectil and Osteocare, and has a presence in 80 countries.
The company is currently run by his son, Tej Lalvani, and according to The Economic Times the potential deal is valued at around £1 billion.
Dr Kartar Lalvani, who holds a PhD in science from Bonn University, remains closely associated with the business, while his elder son Ajit Lalvani, a professor of infectious diseases at Imperial College London, chairs the company’s scientific advisory board.
Vitabiotics has a significant presence in India through its collaboration with Meyer Organics.
Meyer Vitabiotics contributes around 20 percent of the company’s annual revenue of around £250m.
The Lalvani family was ranked 18th in our sister publication Eastern Eye's Asian Rich List 2026 with an estimated wealth of £970m.
The discussions come amid rapid growth in India’s nutraceutical market, which is valued at £1.99bn.
Lupin's interest in Vitabiotics follows earlier consideration from Mankind Pharma and Zydus Wellness, both of which reportedly stepped back due to valuation concerns.
For the Mumbai-based drug firm, it has been a long-term strategy to grow beyond generics and increase its specialty medicines business.
Currently, specialty products contribute around $80 million to Lupin’s revenue, and it expects this segment to expand significantly once the acquisition of VISUfarma BV, an eyecare-focused portfolio company, gets completed by December.
Amsterdam-based VISUfarma has a commercial presence across the UK, Italy, Spain, Germany and France.
The integration of VISUfarma will add to a new portfolio of ophthalmology products, including highly focused nutraceuticals prescribed by ophthalmologists.
Lupin had earlier acquired UK-based Renascience Pharma Limited, which specialises in niche branded products for primary and secondary care.
Renascience Pharma is the sole supplier of four specialty products targeting unmet medical needs in the UK.
Its portfolio includes injectables for infectious diseases, ear drops for pain management, and oral therapy for cardiology and nephrology indications.
