American pharma major Pfizer's Indian arm on Wednesday announced that it had acquired the Neksium brand of the Swedish drug MNC AstraZeneca for Rs 75 crore.

"The drug, used for treating peptic ulcers, will support our India strategy to boost its coverage and equity in the gastro-intestinal therapy area," said Pfizer India Ltd in a regulatory filing to the BSE.Pfizer introduced the drug in India in 2006 and developed equity with its prescribers in the anti-peptic ulcerant space."With Esomeprazole ingredient, Neksium belongs to a class of preparations called 'Proton Pump Inhibitors', which are used for reducing the acid secretion in the stomach," said Pfizer a statement.

The drug is also prescribed for treating conditions of peptic acid disorders."The acquisition is in line with the portfolio expansion through organic and inorganic growth in our focus therapy areas," said Pfizer Managing Director S. Sridhar.With brands like Gelusil and Mucaine, Pfizer has been a provider for solutions in the antacid space for over 30 years.