INDIAN drugmakers and private equity giants TPG Capital and EQT Partners are in early-stage discussions to acquire the UK’s largest nutraceutical company, Vitabiotics, people aware of the development told Eastern Eye.
The potential deal is expected to value the Lalvani family-owned business, founded over five decades ago by British Indian entrepreneur Dr Kartar Lalvani, at around £1 billion.
The transaction is expected to further fuel the company’s growth. It says it is the “number one vitamins company” in the UK and now has global ambitions.
Lupin is said to be exploring a consortium structure with one of the private equity firms for a possible bid.
Founded in 1971, Vitabiotics has grown into the UK’s largest vitamins, minerals and supplements company, with annual revenues of about £250 million and sales across nearly 80 countries.
The high profile business is best known for its leading brands such as Wellwoman, Wellbaby, Pregnacare, Menopace, Feroglobin, Immunace, Visionace, Perfectil and Osteocare, which are widely marketed through pharmacies and national advertising campaigns.
Vitabiotics is currently run by Tej Lalvani, son of the founder, whose business expertise over the last twenty years has helped fuel the remarkable growth of Vitabiotics in the UK and internationally.
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 and is a non-executive director.
Vitabiotics’ Indian arm, Meyer Vitabiotics, contributes around 20 per cent of the group’s annual sales, people aware of the matter told the newspaper. Its flagship brand in India, Calcimax, holds a strong position across paediatrics, diabetes, cardiac care and women’s health, particularly pregnancy and menopause.
Prescription sales from its Indian division Meyer Vitabiotics stood at £39.2m for the 12 months through October 2025, growing 13 per cent on a moving annual total basis, according to PharmaTrac data.
The discussions come amid rapid growth in India’s nutraceutical market, which is valued at £1.99bn annually and expanding at 9 per cent on a moving annual total basis.
Indian pharmaceutical companies have been in active discussion with investors to build global scale and diversify portfolios. Lupin recently acquired UK-based Renascience Pharma and Amsterdam-headquartered VISUfarma BV, while peers such as Zydus have completed multiple cross-border deals in the vitamins and biologics segments.
The Lalvani family was ranked 18th in Eastern Eye's Asian Rich List 2026 with net wealth of £970m.
