Fidia Farma acquires UK’s Altacor

Carlo Pizzocaro, president and CEO of Fidia Farmaceutici

Italian pharma giant Fidia Farmaceutici has announced its acquisition of 100 per cent of the share capital of UK specialist ophthalmology company, Altacor.

Marking Fidia’s direct entry into the UK ophthalmology market, the company stated that its acquisition would expand its “operational footprint and strengthen its positioning in a strategically important therapeutic area”.

The company said it planned to enhance Altacor’s existing portfolio – which includes the Clinitas range for dry eye disease treatment – and introduce its own products and treatments to the UK market.

The latter would include a range of artificial tears formulated with patented Fidia Hyaluronic Acid (FHA 1.0), designed to address different forms of dry eye disease, as well as diagnostic stains for ocular surface diseases, a line of ophthalmic food supplements and multiple platforms to support cataract and corneal cross-linking surgeries.

In addition to the takeover of Altacor, Fidia also announced its acquisition of Meditrina Pharmaceuticals, a Romanian company specialising in the distribution, promotion and marketing of medical devices, food supplements, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics in urology, gynecology and dermatology.

These acquisitions form part of a broader €150m investment plan for the 2025-26 period – and mark the latest in a series of strategic international expansion initiatives carried out by Fidia – the company stated.

Carlo Pizzocaro, president and CEO of Fidia Farmaceutici, stated: “Building on a series of strategic M&A [mergers and acquisitions] operations completed in recent years, the acquisition of Altacor represents another milestone in our international growth journey. We are increasingly focusing our investments on high-potential markets, such as the UK, to strengthen our global presence and expand into new therapeutic areas. By broadening our product portfolio and gaining access to complementary channels, we will further reinforce our position as a leading international player, delivering innovative and effective solutions to meet patient needs in every country where we operate.”

In 2024, Fidia reported revenues exceeding €500m, up 10.1 per cent year-on-year, with double-digit growth across all key markets: Italy (+10.9 per cent), Europe (+13.6  per cent), MENA (+13.7 per cent) and the US (14.6 per cent).