Reckitt Benckiser, the UK household goods maker, yesterday agreed to buy Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, a small US pharmaceuticals group, for £1.1bn ($2.3bn) as it outlined plans to build a global empire in over-the-counter drugs.

Adams, which owns cough and congestion drugs Mucinex and Delsym, gives Reckitt a foothold in the US. It now plans to expand sales of the two drugs overseas. Bart Becht, Reckitt's chief executive, described the acquisition as "a substantial step forward" for his company as it would allow Reckitt to use the skills gained in branding and marketing household products in the consumer healthcare business.