Prestige Consumer Healthcare has agreed to acquire speciality pharmaceutical company Akorn’s Consumer Health unit for a total enterprise value of $230m in cash.

The over-the-counter (OTC) consumer product portfolio to be divested consists of TheraTears, Diabetic Tussin, MagOx, Multi-betic and Zostrix brands.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Prestige noted that TheraTears is an eye care brand, which amounts to nearly 80% of the portfolio revenues while the remaining four are vitamins, minerals and supplements (VMS) or cough and cold medications.

The TheraTears brand has a base of mild and episodic dry eye consumers for its products.

Prestige Consumer Healthcare chairman and CEO Ron Lombardi said: “Prestige has a long and successful history in the eye care space highlighted by the iconic Clear Eyes brand.

“The acquisition of the proven TheraTears brand will further enhance this leading eye care franchise with additional long-term growth opportunities in the fast-growing ‘dry eye’ segment.”

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

In addition, Prestige expects the consumer product portfolio to complement its operational model with outsourced manufacturing and supply qualities similar to its current business.

These brands are anticipated to leverage current infrastructure to offer a timely merger.

The company intends to fund the acquisition using its current credit facilities and the cash available.

On a yearly annual basis, the latest transaction could add nearly $60m and $20m of revenue and EBITDA, respectively, Prestige noted.

The deal is anticipated to conclude in the second fiscal quarter, subject to necessary conditions.

In another development, eFFECTOR Therapeutics and Locust Walk Acquisition have entered a definitive merger agreement.

The combined company will be led by eFFECTOR president and CEO Steve Worland.

On concluding the deal, which is scheduled for the third quarter of this year, the merged company’s common stock will be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and eFFECTOR’s total enterprise valuation will stand at $419m.

The development comes after eFFECTOR and Quantitative Biosciences Institute at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), announced a $5m cooperative agreement for a planned Phase Ib study of zotatifin (eFT226), an anti-viral agent for Covid-19 treatment.

Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Awarded the 2025 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Award for Business Expansion in Integrated Manufacturing, Upperton Pharma Solutions is rapidly expanding its UK GMP and sterile manufacturing footprint. Find out how Upperton’s integrated CDMO model helps pharma companies move from early development to clinical and niche commercial supply with fewer handovers and faster timelines.

Discover the Impact