Bayer has announced that Elanco Animal Health has entered into a definitive agreement to buy it's animal health business for 7.6 billion US dollars.

The divestment is expected to be concluded in mid-2020, and Bayer intends to exit its stake in Elanco over time.

Bayer says that combining Elanco and Bayer Animal Health will create the number two animal heath company, with top three positions across a broad range of species and geographies. It also enhances Elanco’s portfolio of leading global brands and bolsters its innovation capabilities and R&D pipeline.

Jeffrey N. Simmons, president and chief executive officer of Elanco, said: "Combining Elanco’s strong relationship with veterinarians and Bayer’s leadership in retail and e-commerce will ultimately benefit all our customers. We look forward to joining our complementary portfolios and capabilities to build a fully focused animal health company, providing a sustained flow of innovation for farmers, veterinarians and pet owners."

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