ECO-Pharm Ltd., a joint venture of Pharmgate and ECO Animal Health, announced plans for expansion of its of swine vaccines into Japan and Brazil.

“Our timely entry into these two important swine health markets is evidence of our shared commitment to deliver products and services that work for farmers, veterinarians and the animals they care for,” Pharmgate president and chief executive officer Colin Gray said. “Our companies are built on the quality of our products and the depth of our technical knowledge and field support. This joint venture brings these qualities together to benefit our customers around the world.”

ECO-Pharm was established in April and began steps for registration, marketing, sales and distribution of Pharmgate swine vaccine products in the U.K., the European Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States, the announcement said.

Based in the Republic of Ireland, ECO-Pharm is a joint venture of Pharmgate LLC, a leading global animal health organization based in Wilmington, N.C., and ECO Animal Health Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of ECO Animal Health Group PLC.

“This expansion is an important milestone in the development of ECO-Pharm Ltd.,” Peter Lawrence, chairman of ECO Animal Health Group, said. “Swine vaccines account for half the animal health market for this species in Japan and almost a quarter of this market in Brazil.”

Pharmgate and ECO-Pharm jointly established Pharmgate Animal Health in the U.S. in 2010 and in Canada in 2011. These operations market their owners’ range of extensively used medicated feed additives and innovative new therapeutic compounds for livestock and poultry. Pharmgate recently licensed and commercialized their swine vaccine products in North America through these joint ventures.

Pharmgate LLC is the majority-owned U.S. subsidiary of Jinhe Biotechnology Co. Ltd. from China, the world leader in the production of chlortetracycline and other fermentation compounds and, more recently, the majority owner of Hangzhou UBEN Animal Vaccine Co. Ltd., a company manufacturing and supplying vaccines to the domestic market in China.

ECO Animal Health, based in London, U.K., is a leader in the development, registration and marketing of pharmaceutical products for global animal health markets. Its products for these growth markets promote well-being in animals and include the novel antimicrobial Aivlosin as well as a range of generic therapeutic products.