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ChrysCapital completes acquisition of an Indian subsidiary of a global pharma company. Jul 30, 2026, 6:38 AM Translate article text Choose a language and wait for the translated text. ChrysCapital, one of the biggest private equity firms investing in India, acquired a controlling 70.68% stake in Novartis India Limited (NIL). The transaction marks a defining moment for ChrysCapital and for the Indian pharmaceutical sector bringing one of India’s longstanding pharmaceutical businesses under dedicated private equity ownership, with the ambition to build a leading branded-generics platform for the Indian market. NIL has a legacy spanning several decades and a portfolio of brands that are trusted both by healthcare professionals and patients. NIL operates across key therapeutic areas including pain management, calcium supplementation, gynecology, neurosciences, and transplant immunology through brands such as Voveran, Calcium Sandoz, Tegrital etc. Built on a strong foundation of scientific excellence, physician trust, and nationwide reach, NIL has played a meaningful role in improving healthcare outcomes for millions of patients across the country. The acquisition marks ChrysCapital’s first majority-controlled investment in the Indian pharmaceutical sector and reflects the firm’s strong conviction in the long-term growth potential of India’s branded pharmaceuticals market. Building on a proven healthcare investment track record, ChrysCapital aims to leverage its sector expertise and extensive network to support the next phase of growth for NIL and strengthen its position as a leading pharmaceutical business. NIL will adopt a new name and corporate identity to celebrate the company's separation from its previous owners and the beginning of a new era. To support the company’s next phase of growth, NIL has appointed Dr. Vikas Gupta as the CEO and Managing Director. Further, Ramesh Ramadurai, Suchita Sharma and Shashank Sinha have joined as Independent Directors on the Board of NIL. "A strong management team is central to any successful organization, and NIL is fortunate to have Dr. Vikas Gupta at the helm – someone who brings both the experience and the vision this business needs. Combined with NIL’s legacy brands and market standing, ChrysCapital believes the foundation for long-term value creation is firmly in place." - Kshitij Sheth, Managing Director, ChrysCapital Advisors. Dr. Vikas Gupta, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, NIL, said: "NIL has earned its place in Indian healthcare over many decades. Today we begin a new and exciting chapter in NIL's history. We carry forward decades of scientific rigour and physician trust – from that strong foundation and with ChrysCapital's backing we have the resources and focus to grow our portfolio with purpose, reach more patients, and build on what this organization has always stood for." For this transaction, Kotak acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Novartis AG. Freshfields, AZB & Partners advised Novartis AG as legal counsels and Ernst & Young advised Novartis AG on the financial and tax diligence. Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co acted as the legal counsel and Alvarez & Marsal, Dhruva Advisors and Price Waterhouse & Co. were the financial and tax advisors for ChrysCapital. The post ChrysCapital completes acquisition of an Indian subsidiary of a global pharma company appeared first on Express Pharma.

Kenya to adopt new WHO-backed Kala-Azar treatment guidelines. July 29, 2026 Kenya is set to update its national treatment guidelines for kala-azar after the World Health Organisation (WHO) endorsed new improved treatments for leishmaniasis in Eastern Africa marking revision of the global recommendations in nearly two decades. The updated WHO guidelines introduce shorter, safer and more effective treatment regimens for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), commonly known as kala-azar, and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), replacing lengthy injection-based therapies with a combination that includes an oral medicine for the first time in the region. The revised recommendations are based on clinical trials conducted at Kacheliba Sub-County Hospital in Kenya led by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and other partners. Trials were also conducted in Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Welcoming the endorsement, Head, Division of Vector Borne & Neglected Tropical Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Kenya, Wyckliff Omondi said the government is working to incorporate the new treatments in the country's national treatment guidelines, so that patients can benefit from them as soon as possible. "Now that the WHO has updated its treatment guidelines, we are working also to include the new treatments in our national guidelines, so our patients can benefit from them as soon as possible," Omondi said. Adding that: "Kenya has been an active partner in the development of these new treatments through the Leishmaniasis East Africa Platform (LEAP), and we are hopeful that all our joint efforts will lead to the elimination of this terrible disease." The new WHO recommendations include for the first time in the region an oral drug. Patients with kala-azar or PKDL will receive oral miltefosine plus a once-daily paromomycin injection for just 14 days: from 34 injections down to 14 for kala-azar, and from 60-90 injections down to just 14 for PKDL. WHO says kala-azar is one of the world's deadliest parasitic diseases after malaria, and fatal in 95% of cases if untreated. In 2024, Eastern Africa accounted for 79% of global kala-azar cases, with half of all patients being children under 15. In Kenya alone, the treatments are expected to benefit patients in 11 kala-azar endemic counties by reducing painful injections, shortening hospital stays and improving treatment outcomes. "Until now, treatment for kala-azar meant enduring 34 painful injections over 17 days and PKDL treatment required 60-90 days. The new WHO recommendations include for the first time in the region an oral drug. Patients with kala-azar or PKDL will receive oral miltefosine plus a once-daily paromomycin injection for just 14 days: from 34 injections down to 14 for kala-azar, and from 60-90 injections down to just 14 for PKDL," The new regimens recommended for VL and PKDL in eastern Africa are free from sodium stibogluconate (SSG), long known for its painful injections and severe toxicities, replacing it for the first time with an oral drug, miltefosine (MF). In South Asia, new recommended treatment options for people with PKDL are now shorter and safer, with liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) alone or in combination with MF. The guidelines also provide guidance for the management of VL relapse in South Asia. These new therapies recommended for VL and PKDL in eastern Africa and some of the recommended alternative regimens for PKDL in South Asia were developed by the non-profit medical research organization Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and partners. "For too long, patients suffering from leishmaniasis have endured treatments nearly as punishing as the disease itself. These new WHO guidelines mark a turning point," said Dr Daniel Ngamije Madandi, WHO Director of Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases. "By recommending safer, shorter, and more patient friendly regimens, we are not just improving care; we are accelerating our fight to eliminate this devastating disease and offering renewed hope to communities across Africa and Asia." According to a statement, the disease is endemic in 80 countries, with 50,000 to 90,000 new cases estimated to occur each year, while only 25-45% are reported to WHO. PKDL is a skin condition that can develop months after successful kala-azar treatment. Though not life threatening, it is highly stigmatizing, and many people living with PKDL face social isolation and mental health challenges. PKDL can also contribute to ongoing transmission of VL in affected communities. The new treatments will significantly improve the standard of care for patients with leishmaniasis, ahead of the expected arrival in the coming years of even more patient-friendly, innovative oral therapeutic options now in development. This includes LXE408, a novel oral candidate for leishmaniasis that DNDi is jointly developing with Novartis "We are delighted that more patient-friendly treatments developed with our partners have been included in the WHO guidelines,' said Dr Fabiana Alves, Leishmaniasis-Mycetoma Cluster Director at DNDi. 'These advances are important steps towards elimination, but we are already looking ahead. We are now working with Novartis and partners on the development of LXE408, a promising new oral candidate that could help us soon finally move away from injectable regimens." VL, also known as kala-azar ('black fever' in Hindi), is transmitted by the bite of an infected sandfly and is one of the world's deadliest parasitic killers after malaria. It causes high fever, weight loss, anaemia, spleen and liver enlargement, and, if not treated, death. PKDL is a related skin condition that can appear months after kala-azar treatment. It causes visible lesions that often lead to social stigma, isolation, and significant emotional distress.

New regimens replace long, toxic, injection-based treatments. The new regimens replace long, toxic, injection-based treatments with safer, simpler options for this neglected disease. * In eastern Africa, the newly recommended combination treatment is over 90% effective, cuts injections from 34 to 14, and shortens hospitalization for post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) treatment from 60-90 days to 14. * In South Asia, new PKDL options reduce reliance on long, toxic treatment courses - supporting efforts to sustainably eliminate leishmaniasis in the region. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued major updates to its leishmaniasis treatment guidelines, introducing a new regimen for visceral leishmaniasis (VL/kala-azar) in eastern Africa and several shorter options for post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) in eastern Africa and South Asia. The new regimens recommended for VL and PKDL in eastern Africa are free from sodium stibogluconate (SSG), long known for its painful injections and severe toxicities, replacing it for the first time with an oral drug, miltefosine (MF). In South Asia, new recommended treatment options for people with PKDL are now shorter and safer, with liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) alone or in combination with MF. The guidelines also provide guidance for the management of VL relapse in South Asia. These new therapies recommended for VL and PKDL in eastern Africa and some of the recommended alternative regimens for PKDL in South Asia were developed by the non-profit medical research organization Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and partners. 'For too long, patients suffering from leishmaniasis have endured treatments nearly as punishing as the disease itself. These new WHO guidelines mark a turning point,' said Dr Daniel Ngamije Madandi, WHO Director of Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases. 'By recommending safer, shorter, and more patient-friendly regimens, we are not just improving care; we are accelerating our fight to eliminate this devastating disease and offering renewed hope to communities across Africa and Asia.' VL, also known as kala-azar ('black fever' in Hindi), is transmitted by the bite of an infected sandfly and is one of the world's deadliest parasitic killers after malaria. It causes high fever, weight loss, anaemia, spleen and liver enlargement, and, if not treated, death. The disease is endemic in 80 countries, with 50,000 to 90,000 new cases estimated to occur each year, while only 25-45% are reported to WHO. PKDL is a skin condition that can develop months after successful kala-azar treatment. Though not life-threatening, it is highly stigmatizing, and many people living with PKDL face social isolation and mental health challenges. PKDL can also contribute to ongoing transmission of VL in affected communities. The new treatments will significantly improve the standard of care for patients with leishmaniasis, ahead of the expected arrival in the coming years of even more patient-friendly, innovative oral therapeutic options now in development. This includes LXE408, a novel oral candidate for leishmaniasis that DNDi is jointly developing with Novartis. 'We are delighted that more patient-friendly treatments developed with our partners have been included in the WHO guidelines,' said Dr Fabiana Alves, Leishmaniasis-Mycetoma Cluster Director at DNDi. 'These advances are important steps towards elimination, but we are already looking ahead. We are now working with Novartis and partners on the development of LXE408, a promising new oral candidate that could help us soon finally move away from injectable regimens.' Guidelines for Eastern Africa: VL and PKDL Eastern Africa now bears the greatest burden of kala-azar, accounting for 79% of cases in 2024, with half of those affected being children under 15. The new kala-azar treatment, developed through clinical trials in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda, combines oral MF with the injectable antibiotic paromomycin (PM). The MF+PM regimen demonstrated over 90% effectiveness and reduces treatment from 34 painful injections over 17 days to 14 injections over 14 days - 20 fewer injections - with one injection per day alongside oral MF. In addition, the MF+PM regimen helps lower the risk of developing PKDL. The MF+PM and LAmB-MF combinations were also evaluated against PKDL in a study conducted in Sudan. In Sudan, nearly 20% of former kala-azar patients eventually develop PKDL - the highest rate in the world. The trial demonstrated that the MF+PM combination had a very high cure rate against PKDL. This new treatment offers significant advantages, including a much shorter hospitalization period: 14 days compared to the 60-90 days required for the existing treatment based on SSG injections. After 14 days, patients complete MF orally at home for an additional 28 days, substantially easing the burden on families and health facilities. Due to the risk to fetal development associated with MF, women of childbearing potential will need to have a negative pregnancy test and adhere to contraception to receive this new treatment; otherwise, they will continue to receive the current standard of care. 'The new regimens offer significant advantages for patients,' said Prof. Ahmed Musa, Sudan's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and former Senior Investigator of the study at the Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum. 'Shorter hospital stays mean patients with PKDL no longer need to spend weeks away from home. Reducing the number of painful, toxic injections and replacing them with an oral component has made treatment not only easier but also safer for patients. Guidelines for South Asia: PKDL In South Asia, PKDL remains a major public health challenge occurring in an estimated 5-15% of patients treated for VL. The continued presence of PKDL is recognized as one of the main risks to maintaining the gains of kala-azar elimination programmes in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Existing PKDL treatment is based on long administrations of MF (12 weeks), but prolonged use of this drug has been associated with poor adherence and risks such as ocular toxicity, which is why alternatives are urgently needed. The new WHO-recommended options limit MF exposure, either by using LAmB alone or in combination with a short, time-limited course of MF that is effective and reduces toxicity concerns. 'We have seen firsthand in a study from Bihar, how improved treatment regimens for PKDL can transform patient outcomes. The move towards safer, shorter, and combination therapies is a major step forward. It reduces toxicity concerns, improves adherence, and ultimately strengthens our efforts to eliminate kala-azar by addressing PKDL as a key reservoir of infection',said Prof Shyam Sundar, Professor of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University and Programme Director, Kala-Azar Medical Research Centre, India. Following WHO's decision to include the new treatments in their guidelines, countries affected by VL and PKDL are expected to incorporate them into their own national treatment protocols soon. 'Now that the WHO has updated its treatment guidelines, we are working also to include the new treatments in our national guidelines, so our patients can benefit from them as soon as possible,' said Wyckliff Omondi, Head, Division of Vector Borne & Neglected Tropical Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Kenya. 'Kenya has been an active partner in the development of these new treatments through the Leishmaniasis East Africa Platform (LEAP), and we are hopeful that all our joint efforts will lead to the elimination of this terrible disease.' Top Africa News.com is a Private shareholder Digital News Website managed by AFRICA NEWS DIGEST Ltd, a Domestic Company registered in Rwanda Development Board. 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