Bayer acquires Citracal from Mission Pharmacal

Bayer HealthCare has announced that its consumer care segment has signed an agreement to acquire the over-the-counter calcium supplements Citracal from Mission Pharmacal.

The transaction is expected to be finalised in the fourth quarter of the year, subject to standard regulatory approvals, while the financial details of the deal have not been made public.

Bayer reports that this acquisition will enhance the firm’s presence in the US, with Citracal building upon its existing nutritionals portfolio, which currently includes Berocca, One-A-Day, Redoxon and Supradyn.

In the 2007 financial year, Citracal saw net sales of $47 million (23.4 million pounds).

The supplement is currently sold primarily in the US, though the company reports the potential to further growth worldwide through its marketing and distribution capabilities.

Arthur Higgins, chairman of Bayer HealthCare, said: “This acquisition further affirms our strategy and commitment to grow our consumer health segments and will help to solidify our number two position in the global [over-the-counter] market.”

The firm added that the acquisition will boost the key growth driver of its nutitionals product line.

Earlier this month, Bayer reported revenues for the second quarter of the 2007 fiscal year of 8,217 million euros (5,588.4 million pounds), a rise of 22 per cent on the comparable quarter last year.

Growth in the healthcare division of the firm was attributed to its strong performance in pharmaceuticals and consumer health.