Bayer looking for animal drugs businesses
To overcome antitrust problems US drug makers have to shed parts of their businesses. Often the animal health divisions are likely to be divested. Bayer in Germany is at the forefront in takeover talks.
Bayer, Germany’s largest drugmaker, is among the suitors competing for animal health businesses that are coming to market as a result of antitrust concerns about mergers among US drug majors, Financial Times Deutschland (FTD) reported.
Bayer’s management told analysts at a meeting last month that its animal health division was among the businesses that could benefit from acquisitions.
Chief Executive Werner Wenning earlier this year ruled out takeovers worth more than 1 billion euros in 2009.
In the US Merck & Co is to merge with Sanofi-Aventis and it is exploring exiting its animal-health venture.
Also drug giant Pfizer might have to shed some of its animal health business to gain antitrust clearance for its planned purchase of Wyeth.
