Ceva Santé Animale and IDT Biologika GmbH announced May 17 that they have reached a provisional agreement for Ceva to acquire IDT’s veterinary biopharmaceutical portfolio and research and development (R&D) activities, allowing IDT to focus on the manufacture of human biotechnology vaccines and pharmaceuticals for national and international markets.

The deal is subject to approval by Germany's Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) and is expected to be concluded by July 1, the announcement said.

Strong synergies exist between the two companies’ swine and poultry vaccine ranges, and Ceva’s global geographic footprint will allow rapid expansion of the sales of the current IDT product range to the rest of the world, the companies said.

With the global shift towards preventative medicines, both companies have a long history and track record of developing vaccines. Ceva said it plans to invest significantly in the development of a new Global Swine Innovation Center at IDT’s existing site in Dessau, Germany, as well as at IDT Research in Riems, Germany. The center will strengthen Ceva’s biological R&D capabilities, bringing together two highly skilled research teams and innovative pipelines with strong growth potential, according to the announcement.

IDT, a member of the Klocke Group, has significant expertise in a number of other areas, including autogenous vaccines and oral vaccination for the control of endemic disease in wildlife and free-roaming animals, adding important new technology -- especially in rabies control -- to Ceva’s growing public health business.

“From the moment we began talking, it was obvious that with our respective long histories in producing vaccines, we shared a lot of common values through our private, employee and family-owned business structures. Bringing together the two teams will significantly strengthen our biological innovation and development, which is particularly important given the essential role vaccines play in reducing the need for antibiotics, which are critical to the future health of people and animals,” Ceva chairman and chief executive officer Dr. Marc Prikazsky said.

Klocke Holding CEO Carsten Klocke added, “We’ve known Ceva for a long time and picked them intentionally as the ideal partner to ensure the future growth of IDT’s existing animal health products and the strong pipeline, which will also benefit from their international presence and setup. Our colleagues from R&D and sales will become an important part of the sixth-largest and one of the fastest-growing animal health companies in the world. ... Nevertheless, we will continue to manufacture the divested animal health products for Ceva, for at least five years at our Dessau site. This transaction and the clear focus will allow IDT to grow even faster and at the same time mutually support the One Health Initiative -- IDT in human and our partner, Ceva, in animal health.”

No further public announcements are planned until the terms are definitively approved by Bundeskartellamt.

Ceva Santé Animale is a France-based multinational veterinary pharmaceutical company created in 1999. Ceva specializes in the research, development, production and marketing of pharmaceutical products and vaccines for livestock (ruminants, swine and poultry) and companion animals. Ceva is present in 110 countries and employs more than 5,700 people worldwide.

IDT Biologika is an innovative, privately held company with nearly 100 years of experience in researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing products for the global protection of human and animal health.

IDT's animal health business is marketed internationally from its offices in Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Poland and Canada. In the U.S., IDT Corp. operates a production site for clinical test samples in Rockville, Md. In Canada, IDT Biologika subsidiary Gallant Custom Laboratories manufactures autogenous vaccines. The same vaccines are produced by the recently acquired IDT subsidiary in the U.K., Ridgeway Biologicals.

IDT Biologika is a member of the Klocke Group, which is specialized in contract production and packaging of medications, vaccines and cosmetic products.

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