Company invests in technology
Gazeta Mercantil - 04/16/2008
Merial Saúde Animal (Merial Animal Health) is a joint venture between Merck and Sanofi-Aventis. With only 10 years of operation, it is already one of the largest veterinary industries of the world. The company is present in 150 countries, employs nearly 5 thousand people and sold the equivalent to US$ 2.2 billion worldwide in 2006, working both in the segment of animal production and in the pet market. In Brazil, Merial has 11% of the veterinary market and sold R$ 316 million last year. In addition to the financial resources invested in the genetic sequencing project, the company has constantly invested in its units. US$ 22 million was invested in the plant of Paulínea (SP) last year, in order to make it meet the standards of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the GMP program (Good Management Practices), aiming at exporting veterinary products to the United States and Europe and make the Brazilian subsidiary an export platform. This year, the same plant will be receiving the same amount to increase the production of antiparasitic products for horses and chewable products for small animals.