Mumbai: Pharmaceutical and biotechnology major Wockhardt Limited has acquired Dumex India Pvt Ltd along with its two products Protinex and Farex, India''s well known nutrition brands, from Royal Numico NV of The Netherlands, for an undisclosed amount.

The two heritage brands have over 50 years of brand equity. Protinex, acquired by Dumex from Pfizer in 2002, is the market leader and the largest prescribed brand in its category, growing at over 20 per cent in volume in recent years.

Dumex acquired Farex, currently the third-largest selling infant nutrition formula in the cereals category, from Heinz, who had bought it from Glaxo. A growing OTC (over-the-counter) segment of consumers has also emerged over the years, who consume the brand for everyday health.

The two brands currently generate annual sales of Rs60 crore and are a natural fit that complement Wockhardt's product range. Their acquisition will see Wockhardt''s nutrition products sale doubling to Rs120 crore.

Earlier this year, Wockhardt launched a new division called Wockhardt Speciality Nutrition to market disease-specific dietary supplements for patients on dialysis, ICU (intensive care unit) patients and diabetic patients.

According to ORG-IMS Wockhardt has market leadership with a 15-per cent share of the Indian nutrition market.

Wockhardt also inherits a strong sales and marketing organisation with 235 personnel. The acquisition follows Royal Numico's decision to focus on China and other markets. Wockhardt will change the acquired company's name from Dumex' within six months.

"Acquisition of Protinex and Farex is a critical milestone in our growth plans in nutrition business," Wockhardt chairman Habil Khorakiwala said. "Today's acquisition makes us the undisputed leader in medical nutrition. The global market for medical nutrition is worth $ 32.5 billion."

Under the agreement, Royal Numico will also provide Wockhardt with technical know-how to manufacture specialised sugar-free infant food products currently being marketed in India and internationally, under its brand names Dulac and Dupro. These brands are fast gaining acceptance in the Indian market. Currently these products are imported from New Zealand and Malaysia.

Wockhardt is the only healthcare group in India to have its own modern spray-dry milk processing plant in Punjab, built to pharmaceutical standards. Wockhardt has a strong presence in infant nutrition with Dexolac, Nusobee and Firstfood brands, with annual sales of about Rs60 crore. It is also in talks with reputed global companies for in-licensing medical nutrition products suitable for the Indian market.

The US and European Union contribute to half of Wockhardt's sales

Wockhardt Limited is a technology-driven pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with an active multi-disciplinary research programme employing 400 scientists. Its new drug discovery programme has yielded several promising new molecules, one of which has entered Phase II human clinical trials.