Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer ink deal for Fort Dodge animal-health products

Ingelheim, Germany

-- Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) has entered into an agreement with Pfizer to purchase "a significant portion" of the Fort Dodge animal-health portfolio.

The deal would be contingent on the closing of Pfizer's $68-billion acquisition of Wyeth, which is expected early in the fourth quarter, and subject to anti-trust clearance, BI reports in a prepared statement.

In the U.S. and Canada, BI will own and market the pet and cattle vaccine lines as well as a wide range of pharmaceuticals for pets, cattle and other species. In Canada, several swine vaccines are also part of the package. In Australia, BI will own and market the Fort Dodge pet vaccines and in some European countries and in South Africa, certain cattle vaccines.

The deal also includes the purchase of manufacturing and research facilities located in Fort Dodge, Iowa. "Fort Dodge Animal Health is a global industry leader recognized for its commitment to cutting-edge research and development with a product portfolio that is an excellent strategic fit with our existing product lines," reports Hubertus von Baumbach, member of the Board of Managing Directors at Boehringer Ingelheim responsible for Finance and Animal Health. "This acquisition gives us further opportunity to focus on the development of innovative animal-health products through internal research and external collaboration to bring even greater benefit to veterinarians and animal owners."

Prof. Andreas Barner, chairman of the Board of Managing Directors of Boehringer Ingelheim adds, "The widening of our animal-health business and our product portfolio is not a sales-driven decision, but rather is driven by the opportunity to add momentum to our strategy for organic growth since we will build more capabilities in the core vaccine segment and expand our already strong product lines. We look forward to applying our innovative culture to the products included in this acquisition."