Brand – The Media Pub News (TM)

Merck Animal Health completes acquisition of worldwide rights to VECOXAN® brand of parasiticides for ruminant portfolio

Broadens Merck Animal Health’s Position with Enhanced Parasite Protection in Calves and Lambs

MADISON, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$MRK #AnimalHealth–Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of the worldwide rights to VECOXAN® (diclazuril), an oral suspension for the prevention of coccidiosis in calves and lambs, from Elanco Animal Health.

VECOXAN is efficacious, in lambs, against the prevention of coccidiosis caused by Eimeria crandallis and Eimeria ovinoidalis, and in calves, against coccidiosis caused by Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii. VECOXAN is available in Europe, South Africa, South Korea and Japan.

Parasite control and protection is an essential and significant part of ruminant overall health management and outcomes. “With advanced digital and diagnostic solutions to manage the welfare of animals as critical components of our technology, we are dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of animals and the people who take care of them,” said Rick DeLuca, president, Merck Animal Health. “This complementary product for youngstock will add to our existing portfolio of veterinary medicines, including parasiticides, vaccines and services, which provides a full range of complementary solutions for our customers, and underscores our commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®.”

Coccidiosis, a common cause of scours (diarrhea) in lambs and calves that is highly prevalent on cattle and sheep farms, is caused by protozoan parasites called Eimeria that multiply in the intestinal wall, transmitted from animal to animal by the fecal-oral route. Clinical signs include painful scours with or without blood, and decreased appetite and depression, which may progress to dehydration and weight loss. Coccidiosis primarily affects young animals; calves and lambs as young as three to four weeks of age may be affected.

Coccidiosis causes significant economic loss to farmers and producers due to reduced feed conversion, reduced growth rates, reduced performance or death, and by increased susceptibility to other infections, such as intestinal disease or Bovine Respiratory Disease.

About VECOXAN

VECOXAN is an anticoccidial of the benzeneacetonitrile group without antimicrobial activity and has anticoccidial activity against Eimeria species. The product can be used in calves and lambs, beef and dairy, of any weight, in any management system, without environmental restrictions. It has a zero-day meat withdrawal period.

About Merck Animal Health

For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, 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 digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck 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. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter at @MerckAH.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of the recent global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Contacts

Merck

Media:

Hester de Voogd

+1 (201) 463-0407

Hester.de.voogd@merck.com

Pam Eisele

+1 (267) 305-3558

Pamela.Eisele@merck.com

Merck

Investors:

Michael DeCarbo

+ 1 (908) 740-1807

Michael.DeCarbo@merck.com

Prez Trump’s Inaugural Speech aligns with brand

Today has been an “unbelievable” day for the 45th United States President, Donald J. Trump — President Trump responded to a CNN reporter during the Inauguration Parade.

Many thought this day would never come: For better or worse, a billionaire businessman with no public sector experience has become the president of the United States. Liberals are horrified, moderate Republicans are displeased, and the incoming Trump administration is alarmingly unprepared to take the reins. Trump, the controversial real estate scion and former reality TV star, delivered an impressive Inaugural Address and relished in his success today.

Some are cheering Trump as the take-charge outsider we need to end Washington dysfunction, while others fear that he is an incompetent blowhard who will provide only anger and outrage instead of leadership and guidance.

With little evidence as to how Trump will actually operate as America’s chief executive, the press hangs on his every word and searches for clues. Will he be as aggressive as he portrayed himself during his campaign, or will he relax into a hands-off delegator?

Donald Trump’s inauguration address is being examined as a preview of how the Washington outsider will run his Oval Office. Like virtually all of Trump’s politicking thus far, it is far from placid.

From the very beginning, Trump struck a strong populist tone, insisting that his presidency would return power “back to you, the people.” This is certainly a swipe at the outgoing Democratic administration of Barack Obama, who was accused by conservatives of engaging in significant federal overreach with the Affordable Care Act.

But the jab was not intended solely for the departing Democratic administration, but also at moderate Republicans: Trump proclaimed seconds later that “the establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country,” echoing his consistent displeasure with GOP elder statesmen.

Trump then addressed the woes of the nation, but saw them through a staunchly conservative lens: “inner cities, rusted out factories…an education system flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge…the crime and the gangs and the drugs.”

The comment about the education system being “flush with cash” will undoubtedly ruffle feathers, especially among K-12 public school teachers who have faced recent budget cuts. The focus on crime, gangs, and drugs as prominent ailments of America implies that president Trump will continue the controversial “war on drugs” and insist on harsh sentencing guidelines.

“This American carnage stops right here and stops right now” is a line that will divide citizens, with some praising Trump as a tough-on-crime advocate of order and others criticizing him as a proto-dictator looking to exaggerate problems and seek scapegoats.

Doubling down on order, Trump insisted that America had allowed “for the very sad depletion of our military,” implying that he will seek to increase defense spending.

He criticized foreign trade and foreign nations as eroding our economic strength and draining the middle class.

Though the last portion of Trump’s speech was more positive, seeking unity, he re-emphasized some key points that could be considered controversial: Biblical values, staunch support of military and law enforcement, and a criticism of “all talk and no action” politicians. Liberal critics of the “blue wall of silence” and the military-industrial complex are undoubtedly wary.

Though he remained a populist and was true to his brand, eschewing the usual Republican line of being pro-business and pro-free trade, Trump did signal an alliance with the defense hawk wing of the GOP by vowing to restore military funding. The prominent reference of Biblical values may have been intended as an olive branch to religious conservatives, many of whom have been ambivalent about supporting the former Republican nominee due to his extramarital affairs. Nevertheless, his strongest vow, throughout his address, was to the people.

By promising to never let the American people down, Donald Trump is taking a substantial risk. True to form, he chose an optimistic, aggressive message of guaranteed growth and success. He is playing to the crowd, promising results, but he stands to fall hard in 2020 if his administration has not delivered unparalleled security and prosperity.

This begs the question of whether or not Trump has considered re-election strategies. In an era where every utterance, tweet, or text is saved online forever, the ambitious promises made in an inauguration address could quickly become opposition fodder when miracles don’t occur. Remember George Bush Sr. and “no new taxes”?

All in all, Trump’s inauguration address had few major surprises. He did not deviate from the themes and tones of his unorthodox presidential campaign, which made ample use of tough talk and confrontation. He stuck to his guns on destroying ISIS, “bring[ing] back our borders,” and getting people “off welfare.” One thing he did not mention, however, was health care. And, there was also no explicit reference to a border wall. Does this signal that Trump is concerned about his ability to accomplish those two major reforms as originally planned?

It was a speech full of confidence, with a dash of defiance, and with little show of willingness to compromise. Liberals likely hated it, and conservatives probably loved it. In sum, Trump’s first speech as president was consistent with his brand, with the exact same tone as his controversial campaigns. He continued with his theme to “Make America Great Again.”