Medical nutritions is one of Nestle's growth-drivers and the Vevey-based company has recently gone on an acquisition spree or formed joint ventures in the US, the UK and China.

It acquired Prometheus Laboratories, a US firm specialising in diagnostics and licensed speciality pharmaceuticals in GI and oncology; Vitaflo, a provider of clinical nutritional solutions for infants, children and adults with genetic disorders; a minority stake in US firm Accera, specialising in medical foods for Alzheimer patients and UK-based CM&D Pharma, which makes a chewing gum for kidney patients.

Nestle Health Science, which already has a presence in acute disease sectors of ageing medical care, critical care and surgery, and paediatric medical care, formed a joint venture last year with Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing-controlled pharmaceutical and healthcare firm Hutchison China Meditech (Chi-Med), to develop gastro-intestinal treatments based on traditional Chinese medicines.