Pharmaceutical company snaps up US firm in £24.5m deal
Veterinary pharmaceutical business Dechra has acquired a US firm in a £24.5m deal.
The firm, which has its manufacturing base in Skipton, North Yorkshire, and its head office in Northwich, Cheshire has bought Ampharmco (APC) and its associated holding companies, Dragon Fire Holdings and Black Griffin Holdings together with its manufacturing site based in Fort Worth, Texas.
APC was founded in 1999 as a veterinary contract manufacturer specialising in companion animal products (CAP) and subsequently received FDA approval for two veterinary generic products, one of which, Gentamicin-Betamethasone Topical Spray, is currently marketed by Dechra.
The other product, Carprofen Chewable Tablets, is currently marketed by another international animal health company.
APC will also provide Dechra with an FDA registered facility to manufacture solid dose, liquids, creams and ointments, which will significantly strengthen its manufacturing capabilities for the North American market. APC also has a small pipeline of CAP products which will complement Dechra’s existing US product portfolio.
Ian Page, Dechra’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are pleased to have completed the acquisition of APC which allows us to bring in-house manufacturing for a number of our currently outsourced products in the US market and will, in the longer term, also add to our US portfolio of approved CAP products.”
