Dechra sees positive growth in last half-year

Dechra has published its pre-close trading update for the half-year ending on December 31st 2010, reporting several indicators of year-on-year growth.

The animal health company generated a revenue total for the six months that was 3.9 percent higher than the year-ago period, with both European and US sales seeing increases.

In the EU, Dechra saw improved sales across all of its key product lines, while progress has been made on the evaluation of three new novel veterinary health compounds, two of which are patent-protected.

Moreover, the company stated that it is proceeding as planned with two recent acquisitions, including the takeover of US firm DermaPet, a deal agreed in October 2010.

It was also able to arrange the purchase of Sussex-based Genitrix the following month, a transaction which will add products such as the canine epilepsy product Libromide to its portfolio.

A Dechra statement said: "The board remains confident that the group will continue to make positive progress throughout the remainder of the financial year."