Bayer’s Bayer Consumer Health division has launched its global digestive health brand Alka-Seltzer in India, entering the fast-growing OTC gut care market with what it calls first antacid in AYUSH category featuring probiotic support.

 

The product arrives in an effervescent powder sachet format aimed at tackling common complaints such as acidity, gas and indigestion—issues increasingly linked to modern lifestyles marked by irregular meals, stress and sedentary habits.

 

The launch comes against the backdrop of a significant public health burden. Nearly 12% of consumers report daily digestive or gut issues, while 59% say they experience them weekly.

 

Overall, nearly 7 in 10 urban consumers face digestive discomfort on a regular basis. Acidity (37%), gas (33%) and indigestion (20%) remain the most frequently reported problems, with 80% of consumers believing gut issues may contribute to long-term lifestyle diseases.

 

Positioning the launch as a category reset, Sandeep Verma, Head of South Asia at Bayer’s Consumer Health Division, said, “The antacid category in India has remained largely unchanged for decades, even as consumer lifestyles and expectations have evolved significantly. 

 

"With Alka-Seltzer, we are looking to redefine this space by introducing India’s first antacid with probiotics, designed to deliver both fast-acting relief and support for long-term digestive health. 

 

"This launch reflects our ongoing commitment to bringing a more holistic, science-led innovation into the market. Importantly this is not simply the adaptation of a global product. It has been developed using deep local insights and is manufactured locally, making it a 100% ‘Made in India’ offering.”

 

The company says the Ayurvedic effervescent powder, available in lemon flavour and single-use sachets, is designed to neutralise excess stomach acid for rapid relief while also supporting gut health through Lactobacillus derived from curd extract. 

 

Bayer says the formulation is intended to combine immediate symptom relief with longer-term microbiome support, addressing the way acidity can disrupt beneficial gut bacteria.

 

With the launch, Bayer is betting on rising consumer awareness around digestive wellness and positioning Alka-Seltzer as a dual-action solution in a category that has seen little structural innovation for decades.