MSD Animal Health experiences growth in 2011

MSD Animal Health has seen a strong double-digit increase in annual sales during 2011.

Parent company Merck Sharpe and Dohme has published its financial report for the year, revealing that the veterinary medicine subsidiary generated global sales of $3.3 billion (2.08 billion pounds) over the last 12 months.

This represented an 11 percent increase compared to 2010, including a three percent uplift thanks to foreign exchange, with the rate of growth attributed in large part to a strong $868 million revenue total in the fourth quarter.

MSD Animal Health enjoyed a strong performance across the majority of regions during the final three months of 2011, thanks primarily to increased sales of swine, poultry and companion animal products.

This came at the end of a momentous year for the company, which was rebranded from Intervet/Schering-Plough in June 2011 as part of Merck Sharpe and Dohme's efforts to increase its focus on the animal health market.

It followed the mutual decision to call off a planned merger between the Merck-owned company and fellow veterinary medicine manufacturer Merial, which is owned by Sanofi.