The Nirma Group, owned by billionaire industrialist Karsanbhai Patel, is making a fresh and aggressive move in the pharmaceutical space. It has acquired a 100% stake in Bangalore-based Stericon Pharma Private limited, a CDMO that specializes in sterile contact lens cleaning solutions and eye drops. Private equity firm InvAscent, who had provided guidance during Stericon’s growth, noted that its products are sent to nearly 50 countries. Gurdeep Singh and Divakar Chandran, Stericon’s founders, noted that InvAscent’s guidance was integral in propelling Stericon forward. Nirma Group, through its existing healthcare vertical Aculife Healthcare, is focusing closely on the pharma space with an aim to acquire more companies. Since September 8, 2022, Nirma has been engaged in a bidding process for Maneesh Pharmaceuticals.