Merck Spends $1.3b Expanding into Aqua Business—Big Interest in Vaccines, Medicines & Supplements for Aquatic Species

The stakes in Big Pharma post COVID-19 pandemic only intensify with the latest acquisition, Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc (Merck) traded on the New York Stock Exchange as MRK announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the aqua business of Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) for $1.3 billion in cash, consisting of an innovative portfolio of medicines and vaccines, nutritionals and supplements for aquatic species; two related aqua manufacturing facilities in Canada and Vietnam; as well as a research facility in Chile. The acquisition is expected to be completed by mid-year 2024, subject to approvals from regulatory authorities and other customary closing conditions.

Merck disclosed in a press release that upon closing, the deal broadens Merck Animal Health’s aqua portfolio with products, such as CLYNAV^®, a new generation DNA-based vaccine that protects Atlantic salmon against pancreas disease, and IMVIXA^®, an anti-parasitic sea lice treatment. This acquisition also brings a portfolio of water treatment products for warm water production, complementing Merck Animal Health’s warm water vaccine portfolio. In addition to these products, the DNA-based vaccine technology that is a part of the business has the potential to accelerate the development of novel vaccines to address the unmet needs of the aqua industry.