Cipla South Africa, a subsidiary of Cipla Limited, has agreed to acquire Actor Pharma, a major player in the South African over-the-counter (OTC) market, in order to expand its presence in the country's healthcare sector.

Cipla South Africa, according to the company, made this strategic acquisition to capitalise on cost synergies and unlock future growth opportunities in the South African market.

"This (the acquisition) is in line with our strategy to expand our OTC and wellness portfolio." "We believe this is an excellent opportunity to leverage our existing marketing capabilities, unlock future growth opportunities, and optimise the performance of our pipeline," said Umang Vohra, Global MD and CEO of Cipla Limited.

Actor Pharma, which was founded in 2009, has quickly risen to become South Africa's fifth-largest privately-owned OTC player. Actor Pharma, a company that specialises in OTC and generic medications, has created strong consumer brands and recognised niche markets in areas like women's health, nasal, cough and cold, and baby and child.

According to Paul Miller, CEO of Cipla South Africa, "this is a special opportunity that helps to build Cipla's OTC portfolio, providing the business with a more balanced revenue contribution between prescription and over-the-counter business while continuing to provide additional high-quality medicines for consumers."

The transaction is expected to close within three to four months, subject to the negotiation and signing of definitive transaction agreements, as well as regulatory approval from South Africa's Competition Commission.

According to Cipla, this strategic acquisition will provide significant growth opportunities and cost synergies for Cipla South Africa, further solidifying its presence in the South African healthcare market.