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Novartis to sell animal health division
Novartis
Novartis will sell its animal health division and vaccines business, excluding flu.

Top drug companies strike multi-billion dollar deal

Leading drug company Novartis has announced it will sell off its animal health division to Eli Lilly and Company for $5.4 billion.

In a separate transaction, Novartis has struck a multi-billion dollar deal with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to exchange assets and launch a joint venture. Novartis will acquire GSK oncology products for $16 billion.  

The company will also sell its vaccines business, except the flu unit, to GSK for $7.1 billion.

Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis, said this marks a "transformational moment" for the company. "We believe the divestment of our smaller vaccines and animal health divisions will enable us to realise immediate value from these businesses for our shareholders," he said.

"Those divisions will benefit from being part of large, global businesses that are also leaders in their segments.

"Patients will benefit from even higher levels of innovation that this focus may afford. Looking ahead, this positions Novartis well for future healthcare industry dynamics."

A joint venture will see the combination of Novartis' over-the-counter unit and GSK Consumer Healthcare, with the aim of creating a world-leading consumer healthcare business. Annual sales are expected to reach around $6.5 billion.

GSK said the transactions will boost the company's annual revenues by £1.3 billion to £26.9 billion.

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.