MSD Animal Health Announces New Agreement with Union Agener Animal Health for Worldwide Distributorship of LACTOTROPIN®
Recombinant bovine somatotropin, manufactured by Union Agener Animal Health, increases milk production in lactating dairy cows
Complements MSD Animal Health’s broad portfolio of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and technology solutions
RAHWAY, N.J., Feb. 24, 2025 – MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), and Union Agener Animal Health, today announced that they have entered into a new agreement whereby MSD Animal Health will be the exclusive global distributor of LACTOTROPIN®, a recombinant bovine somatotropin, in all markets with the exception of Mexico, South Africa and the United States. In Brazil, MSD Animal Health will be a co-distributor with Union Agener.
LACTOTROPIN® is used to increase milk production in lactating dairy cows starting 60 days postpartum, offering greater efficiency and productivity for producers. The product acts directly on the partitioning of nutrients and indirectly as a stimulus for greater milk production. It helps cows maintain higher levels of milk production throughout the lactation.
This new product will augment MSD Animal Health’s comprehensive portfolio of products and solutions for dairy cattle and allow the company to continue providing the health solutions that are important to customers to improve wellbeing, prevention, and productivity.
About MSD Animal Health
At MSD, known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA in the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world’s most challenging diseases. MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business of MSD. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, MSD Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. MSD Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. MSD Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.msd-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).
About União Química and Union Agener Animal Health
União Química is a leading Brazilian pharmaceutical company with over 88 years of history, recognized for its solid performance in the industry. We are deeply committed to quality and environmental sustainability, consistently investing in research and development to develop better healthcare solutions.
Our operations are divided into two business segments: Human Health and Animal Health. The Animal Health division, Agener União, was established in 2000 and has since grown into one of the most prominent players in the Brazilian and global veterinary market. Our comprehensive and diversified product portfolio serves both companion (pets) and production animals. This includes Tecnopec, a pioneering subdivision specialized in animal reproduction, offering a wide range of reproductive solutions, including intravaginal progesterone devices and fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocols for cattle. In 2018, we expanded our capabilities by acquiring Union Agener Animal Health, a vertically integrated state-of-the-art biotechnology facility with an automated robotic production line, ensuring superior performance and quality in the manufacturing process.
LACTOTROPIN, produced in Union Agener’s facility in Augusta, Georgia, USA, empowers farmers to generate safe, nutritious, and affordable milk while adhering to environmentally responsible practices. LACTOTROPIN has been shown to improve milk production efficiency, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions per unit of milk compared to unsupplemented cows².
Our team comprises highly qualified veterinarians and professionals dedicated to developing, manufacturing, and delivering high-quality solutions that enhance animal health and better societal well-being.
For more information, visit www.uniaoquimica.com.br and www.unionagener.com.
Reference:
1 – Judith L. Capper, Euridice Castañeda-Gutiérrez, Roger A. Cady, and Dale E. Bauman. The environmental impact of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) use in dairy production.
2 – FAO [food agriculture organization] November 2013 – Affirmation of the human food safety of recombinant bovine somatotropin by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives, Seventy-Eighth report, pages 70-78. Available here.