Merck to expand animal health business with acquisition of Harrisvaccines

US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK), through its Merck Animal Health unit, has entered into an agreement to acquire Harrisvaccines, a privately-held USA-based company that develops, manufactures and sells vaccines for food production and companion animals. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the companies expect the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2015.

“As a leader in biologics, Merck Animal Health has built a robust portfolio of vaccines across all animal species,” stated Rick DeLuca, president, Merck Animal Health, adding: “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.”

Harrisvaccines offers innovative technology and an important portfolio of vaccines, with a focus on production animals, an increasingly important segment as consumer demand for protein continues to grow worldwide. The company has a unique RNA Particle technology which represents a breakthrough in vaccine development. It also has a highly versatile production platform able to target a wide range of viruses and bacteria.