Sanofi acquires US animal vaccines specialist Newport Laboratories

Sanofi yesterday said that its animal health subsidiary Merial has acquired Newport Laboratories, a privately held US specialist in swine and bovine vaccines.

The Paris-based drugmaker did not reveal the financial terms of the deal.

Founded in 1994 and based Worthington, Minnesota, Newport is the largest manufacturer of autogenous biologics for swine and cattle in the US.

Autogenous vaccines are developed and produced from a virus or bacteria strain that has been isolated from the tissue samples submitted from a particular farm, offering veterinarians and producers alternative methods to help prevent diseases in food animals.  

It offers bacterins and killed virus vaccines that include TempDown, a water-soluble aspirin that reduces pain, fever, and swelling in sick animals, and ParaSail that aids in the prevention of Glasser's disease in swine.

The company also provides diagnostic services, including antibiotic susceptibility testing; serological antibody profiles to monitor herd pathogens and exposure, microbiological culture and sensitivity for routine bacteria; virus isolation techniques for viral pathogens, such as PRRS and SIV; histopathology; and testing services for swine and bovine clients.