Eli Lilly to acquire Johnson & Johnson’s animal health unit
15 Mar 2011
The world's largest manufacturer and distributor of psychiatric drugs, Eli Lilly & Co, yesterday signed a deal to acquire Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, the animal health unit of Johnson & Johnson for an undisclosed sum.
Indianopolis-based Eli Lilly is acquiring Janssen through its animal health division Elanco, which develops and markets products for animal health and food in more than 75 countries.
Elanco, the world's fourth-biggest animal health business with sales of $1.4 billion last year, employs more than 2,300 people worldwide, and has offices in more than 40 countries.
The acquisition would give Elanco a portfolio of about 50 marketed animal health products.
Under the terms of the deal, Elanco would acquire products, manufacturing licenses, distribution rights and the existing contract portfolio, as well as the related intellectual property and marketing authorisations.
Headquartered in Beerse, Belgium, Janssen's animal health business is primarily European-focused, targeting disease segments in companion animals and livestock, with special emphasis on swine and poultry.
"The addition of Janssen's animal health business will strongly support a number of strategic growth priorities for Elanco, while providing synergies with our current operations," said Jeff Simmons, Lilly senior vice president and president of Elanco.
"Through this transaction, we intend to further expand our European presence, bolster our growing portfolio of companion animal medicines and diversify our food animal portfolio with new swine and poultry products," he added.
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