Merck Animal Health Acquires Elanco's Aqua Business for $1.3B

Merck Animal Health, known outside the United States and Canada as MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck and Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Elanco's Aqua business. Animal Health Incorporated is a $1.3 billion company with a portfolio of innovative medicines, vaccines, nutritional products and supplements for aquatic life. Two aqua manufacturing centers in Canada and Vietnam are also research centers in Chile. The acquisition is expected to close in mid-2024, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

Once completed, the acquisition will expand Merck Animal Health's Aqua portfolio with products such as Clynav, a DNA-based vaccine to protect Atlantic salmon against pancreatic diseases, and Imvixa, an antiparasitic. The acquisition also includes a portfolio of hot water treatment products to complement Merck Animal Health's vaccine portfolio. In addition to these benefits, DNA-based vaccine technology has the potential to accelerate the development of new vaccines to address unmet needs in the aquaculture industry.

"We are excited to acquire Elanco's water products and solutions and the capabilities and expertise their team will bring to our business," said Rick DeLuca, president of Merck Animal Health. "We believe this acquisition, together with our commercial and educational activities, will provide even greater benefits to Aqua's customers." as a leader in the aquaculture space."

Elanco Animal Health President Jeff Simmons said, "After solid growth over the past year, Merck Animal Health has emerged as a strategic partner for our aquaculture business. We appreciate it very much. The Aqua organization's commitment to our customers and our mission to enrich lives with animal protein.