Virbac has entered into a new strategic alliance in
food-producing animals vaccines, by setting up a
joint-venture with the Taiwanese company Schweitzer Biotech
Company (SBC). Virbac will have a 49% shareholding in this
joint-venture, SBC-Virbac, based in Hong Kong, and will
have the possibility to ultimately acquire whole of its
capital stock.
SBC, founded in 2001, has built up a large expertise in the
development of banks of cell cultures used in the
production of viral vaccines by partners manufacturing
veterinary vaccines. SBC also specialized in the research
and development of viral and bacterial vaccines for swine,
aquaculture species and poultry. In particular SBC has
developed and finalized the first vaccine against swine
circovirus for the Chinese market, which has been
registered and launched one year ago in China by its local
partner. The company has a vaccines manufacturing facility
based in Kaoshiung, Taiwan.
In return for a financial contribution brought by Virbac to
the joint-venture, SBC contributes all of its expertise,
technological and scientific know-how, pipe-line of
products in development and manufacturing capacities, as
well as its current business in Taiwan and its existing
commercial and technological partnerships.
SBC-Virbac shall thus represent a solid basis for the
development, registration and manufacturing of vaccines
used for swine, aquaculture and poultry and will be able to
rely on the Virbac commercial platform to market those in
future years, firstly in Asian markets outside China and
then potentially in other regions of the world, including
China.
After the alliance entered into in 2010 with Santa Elena in
Uruguay in vaccines for bovine, this new partnership in
swine, aquaculture and poultry vaccines will make available
to Virbac a range of vaccines used for the different
food-producing animals species, market segments which have
been enjoying a fast growth since several years.
Virbac specializes in the research, production and marketing of veterinary medicines. The activity is organized around 2 product families:
- pet medications: pest control drugs, vaccines, antibiotics, anesthetics, anti-inflammatory drugs, mouth/dental care products, ophthalmologic and dermatological products intended for dogs, cats, horses, birds, rodents, etc. The group also offers foods and electronic identification chips;
- livestock medications: pest control drugs and antibiotics intended for cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, etc.
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: France (15.8%), Europe (24.9%), Asia (17.5%), Latin America (16.2%), North America (13.3%), Pacific (9.7%), Africa and Middle East (2.6%).