Intervet/Schering-Plough and Merial merger ‘continuing well’

Intervet/Schering-Plough's merger with Merial is progressing as planned, according to Intervet owner Merck Sharpe and Dohme.

Steven Campanini, a spokesman for the pharmaceutical company, told Reuters that the process of integrating Intervet/Schering-Plough with the Sanofi-aventis-owned Merial is currently "continuing well".

The merger of the two companies was announced earlier this year and is set to create a new organisation called Merial-Intervet.

Current Intervet/Schering-Plough president Raul Kohan will act as chief executive officer for the combined company, which will be the biggest animal health supplier in the world.

Mr Campanini confirmed that the firms are currently in discussions over the sale of certain product lines ahead of the merger, in accordance with competition laws, noting that there has been "considerable interest" for the assets.

He added: "We will be proactive on divestitures in markets identified by our antitrust advisors as likely to require such divestitures."

Reuters states that at least three companies are involved in the bidding for the Intervet/Schering-Plough and Merial products.