Novartis India has agreed to pay Rs12.5bn ($132m) to acquire the Minipres and Minipress trademarks in India, along with certain associated intellectual property rights, from Pfizer and Pfizer Products.

The purchase adds an established hypertension brand to Novartis' cardiovascular range.

Novartis India's board cleared the deal, after which the company signed an asset purchase agreement and trademark assignment deeds with the two Pfizer entities.

The transaction covers trademarks registered in India. In a stock exchange filing, Novartis India said signing and closing would occur at the same time.

The company also stated that the deal is not a related-party transaction, and that Pfizer has no connection with its promoter, promoter group or group companies.

The agreement coincides with Pfizer's withdrawal of Minipress XL in India.

In a separate filing, Pfizer said it would stop marketing, distributing and selling Minipress XL from 7 September, after Pfizer USA decided to end manufacture of the product.

Minipress XL contains prazosin. In India, it is used mainly to treat hypertension, or high blood pressure, and to manage urinary symptoms linked to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition in which the prostate becomes enlarged.

The acquisition therefore gives Novartis India a brand spanning both cardiovascular treatment and BPH management.

Citing IQVIA data, Novartis India said Minipress XL recorded revenue of Rs2.28bn in the 12 months to July 2026.

The brand grew at a compound annual growth rate of 6.3% over the past four years, below the 9% recorded by the wider category in the same period.

The size of the payment makes the purchase a substantial one for Novartis India. The company has been building its portfolio through selective brand purchases.

Private equity company ChrysCapital agreed in December 2025 to acquire a controlling stake in Novartis India.