Merck Continues Its Animal Health Empire-Building, Here In The US -- Thus, Decreasing Price Competition... So It Goes.

Many longer term readers will recall all the back and forth, and deal-doing / swapping that took place about 15 years ago -- to resolve antitrust concerns, when Merck acquired Schering-Plough, and thus its Animal Health businesses (which SGP itself had earlier acquired by buying EU / Organon). Those days are long gone -- but the bottom portion of the graphic recalls that era.

This present era involves Rahway buying up the portion it does not already own -- of the privately-held poultry health company called Targan (which makes the WingScan assembly, depicted above right -- for diagnosing and then innoculating chicken, at scale). There is still some concern that between Pfizer and Merck, there are only really two in the US on this field. But antitrust enforcement is no priority of the current administration. So it makes sense to get this deal done, now. Here's that, from local NJ outlets:

. . .Rahway-based Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire TARGAN, a privately held innovator in developing and commercializing biodevice solutions to improve performance outcomes for the poultry industry, for an undisclosed purchase price.

Merck Animal Health has invested in TARGAN since 2017 and has been one of the company’s largest shareholders.

The proposed acquisition is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026, subject to approvals from applicable regulatory authorities and other customary closing conditions.

“The acquisition of TARGAN’s best-in-class biodevice technology for use in commercial hatcheries complements and accelerates our growing biopharmaceutical presence in poultry and increases our ability to deliver significant customer value globally,” said Rick DeLuca, president, Merck Animal Health. . . .

Now you know -- onward, to a matinee of "Disclosure Day". . . the new Spielberg offering. . . smile.

नमस्ते