Novartis Animal Health today announced that it is acquiring Vericore Holdings Limited, a UK-based company focused on vaccines, parasiticides and other products for farm animals, pharmaceuticals for companion animals, and aquaculture.



Vericore, whose 1998 sales exceeded GBP 30 million (approximately CHF 80 million), will significantly strengthen the Novartis Animal Health business in the UK – one of the most important companion and farm animal markets. Financial details were not disclosed and the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.



In addition to the commercial activities in the UK and Ireland, the acquisition of Vericore includes a 40% share of Cobequid, a Canadian-based aquaculture company holding global exclusive rights to patents for DNA-based vaccines in that field.



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