CCI approves GSK, Pfizer joint venture in consumer healthcare

New Delhi: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved a joint venture by pharmaceuticals companies GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer in the consumer healthcare market.

GSK had in December last year announced that it had reached an agreement with Pfizer to combine the two companies’ consumer healthcare businesses.

“CCI approves formation of a JV for consumer healthcare products by GSK and Pfizer,” CCI said in a tweet on Friday. In the announcement, GSK said the new entity, which will sell over the counter (OTC) drugs and healthcare supplements, will have a combined market share of 7.3% in the OTC market. GSK also said it expects to receive all required regulatory approvals to complete the transaction in the second half of 2019.


The consumer healthcare business of GSK is focused on research, development and marketing of OTC products, while Pfizer’s consumer healthcare business primarily offers pain management medications (OTC), digestive health products, dietary supplements, and respiratory and personal care products.