Kelso Pharma, the growing specialty pharma business backed by Apposite Capital, the healthcare specialist private equity investor, today (19 February 2025) announces the acquisition of the UK pharma business, ALTURiX Holdings Limited (ALTURiX).
The transaction marks a significant step towards Kelso’s vision of building a specialty pharma business of scale in the UK and ultimately across Europe. The acquisition will be complementary, with Kelso Pharma and ALTURiX sharing a common philosophy of supplying branded specialty medicines that provide patient benefits and a reduced cost burden to the NHS.
ALTURiX has seven branded medicines in the UK market today, driving double digit topline revenue growth. These are in the therapeutic areas of:
- Central nervous system
- Respiratory disease
- Endocrinology
A further two pipeline products in the ALTURiX portfolio will launch in the next 12 months which, added to its existing portfolio, will further expand the Kelso portfolio of 11 products in the UK market today, accelerating its strong top-line revenue growth. The ALTURiX portfolio of branded medicines is highly complementary to Kelso Pharma’s existing portfolio whose products are marketed through its existing businesses, Stirling Anglian Pharmaceuticals, based in Scotland, and Velit Biopharma, located in Italy.
ALTURiX is based in Milton Keynes, England, and all staff are expected to remain with the business post-acquisition. ALTURiX’s co-founders will work with the Kelso team to ensure a smooth transition and maintain continuity of supply of medicines to patients.
Kelso Pharma is headed by Dr Tom Stratford, previously CEO of Kyowa Kirin International (“KKI”), the European and US business arm of Kyowa Kirin, which purchased Scottish Borders-based ProStrakan Group PLC in 2011.
Announcing Kelso Pharma’s third acquisition, Dr Tom Stratford said:
“Our aim has always been to build a specialty pharma business that puts patients first and, in ALTURiX, we have found a complementary business that shares our philosophy of improving the lives of patients in a cost-effective and ethical way.
“This is a milestone acquisition for Kelso Pharma, doubling the size of our UK business and building a pharma company of scale. The Kelso platform is now positioned for further international growth as we seek to expand the markets for ALTURiX’s products, as well as further enhancing Kelso Pharma’s position as a partner of choice for other pharma businesses and innovative products.”
Kelso Pharma is backed by Apposite Capital LLP (“Apposite”), the private equity firm that invests in high potential commercial stage healthcare companies across Europe, with 13 healthcare businesses in its current investment portfolio.
Apposite Managing Partner, Sam Gray, said:
“We are pleased to support this next strategic move for Kelso Pharma as its experienced management team builds a specialty pharma business of scale.”
Simon Fisher, Co-Founder of ALTURiX, said: “My late father-in-law shaped the first foundation steps of this company some 27 years ago. Over time, coupled with an unrelenting desire for growth, it has grown each year and since his passing in 2014, the company has transformed and transitioned into what is ALTURiX today, the result being far from what I am sure John could have imagined possible. Fit was a critical aspect in deciding the future of the company and we are pleased to be handing ALTURiX over to Dr Tom Stratford and welcome his capable team at Kelso Pharma. Kelso Pharma is ideally structured, suitably resourced and culturally aligned to drive the company further on its exciting growth trajectory and we believe that this is in the best future interests of both patients and prescribers alike.”
