Indian pharmaceutical major USV has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 79% stake in direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand Wellbeing Nutrition, valuing the company at Rs 1,583 crore, as the drugmaker pivots toward the high-growth weight management and clinical nutrition sector.The all-cash transaction facilitates a complete exit for early investors Fireside Ventures and consumer goods giant Hindustan Unilever, each holding a 19.8% stake. The deal marks a significant liquidity event with Fireside Ventures clocking an approximate 15-fold return on its initial investment, while HUL secured a 5-fold gain.Beyond the immediate change in ownership, the acquisition signals a major strategic entry into the GLP-1-based weight-loss market. While patents for key weight-loss drugs are expiring, USV and Wellbeing Nutrition are jointly developing oral, simpler delivery mechanisms for GLP-1 therapies, instead of current injectable treatments.The collaboration is also targeting the side effects associated with these rapid weight-loss treatments, specifically the loss of muscle mass known as sarcopenia. The company plans to introduce clinical-grade protein supplements fortified with ingredients designed to aid muscle synthesis in patients undergoing GLP-1 therapy.”We really want to go out and break the norm on how nutrition as a category in India has been built,” Wellbeing Nutrition founder Avnish Chhabria shared… Read MoreYourStory RSS Feed
