Merck Animal Health to acquire Elanco’s aqua business for $1.3B

Merck Animal Health, a division of Rahway-based Merck & Co., on Monday announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire the aqua business of Elanco Animal Health Inc. for $1.3 billion.

The acquisition is expected to be completed by mid-year.

The deal consists of an innovative portfolio of medicines and vaccines, nutritionals and supplements for aquatic species; two related aqua manufacturing facilities in Canada and Vietnam; as well as a research facility in Chile.

The acquisition will broaden Merck Animal Health’s aqua portfolio with products, such as CLYNAV, a new generation DNA-based vaccine that protects Atlantic salmon against pancreas disease, and IMVIXA, an anti-parasitic sea lice treatment.

This acquisition also brings a portfolio of water treatment products for warm water production, complementing Merck Animal Health’s warm water vaccine portfolio. In addition to these products, the DNA-based vaccine technology that is a part of the business has the potential to accelerate the development of novel vaccines to address the unmet needs of the aqua industry.

“We are excited for the acquisition of Elanco’s aqua products, solutions as well as the capabilities and expertise the team brings to our business,” Rick DeLuca, president, Merck Animal Health, said. “We believe this acquisition, coupled with our commercial and scientific prowess, will deliver enhanced benefits for our aqua customers. The addition of this innovative portfolio of cold water and warm water aqua products across vaccines, anti-parasitic treatments, water supplements and nutrition, will establish Merck Animal Health as a leader in aqua.”

“Following a robust process over the last year, Merck Animal Health emerged as the right strategic buyer for the aquaculture business. I am confident they will continue to deliver value to the aqua customers that rely on these products and create opportunities for our team to continue to grow. We are deeply grateful to our aqua organization’s dedication to delivering for our customers and to our bigger purpose of enriching lives with animal protein,” Elanco Animal Health CEO and President Jeff Simmons said,