MSD Animal Health is to acquire Harrisvaccines, the privately-owned company that produced the first conditionally licensed vaccine to help control Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea Virus (PEDv).
“Combining Harrisvaccines’ R&D and portfolio of products with our strong capabilities and global reach will enable us to address even more devastating diseases that are impacting production animals and reinforce our commitment to the science of healthier animals,” said MSD Animal Health president, Rick DeLuca.
MSD also welcomed Harrisvaccines as a company which is equipped with a “highly versatile production platform able to target a wide range of viruses and bacteria”, stating that its pioneering system is rapidly adaptable to new disease challenges, as shown by the PEDv vaccine development.
Harrisvaccines, in turn, welcomed joining forces with MSD Animal Health as a move which would extend its commercial reach, representing a “tremendous opportunity to best serve producers and veterinarians as they protect the health of animals worldwide”.
The companies expect the transaction to be concluded before the end of 2015.