CAMBRIDGE, ON--(Marketwired - Aug 25, 2015) - IDT Biologika announces today the acquisition of Gallant Custom Laboratories, based in Ontario, Canada. The transaction is to close August 31, 2015. Gallant Custom Laboratories is the only Canadian company authorized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to manufacture autogenous viral and bacterial vaccines.
"With its strong scientific focus, in-house research and development and production of autogenous vaccines for the Canadian market, Gallant is an outstanding match for the IDT Group," says IDT Biologika CEO Dr. Ralf Pfirmann. "With this second acquisition in North America within just a few months, IDT Biologika is highlighting its expanding commitment to meeting the vaccine manufacturing needs in these key international markets."
Gallant serves customers throughout Canada, particularly to those who provide vaccines to the Canadian livestock and poultry industry. The company relies on modern in-house diagnostic laboratory facilities to identify viral and bacterial diseases in pigs, sheep, goats, cattle and poultry, and to subsequently manufacture and supply the appropriate autogenous vaccines corresponding to specific pathogens out of its Cambridge-based manufacturing facilities in Ontario. Gallant presently employs twelve people, and will continue to do business as "Gallant Customs Laboratories, an IDT Biologika company." Jackie Gallant, a microbiologist who founded the company 20 years ago, will retain her title as President of Gallant Customs Laboratories and serve in the role of Senior Executive Manager. In addition, she will sit on the IDT Scientific Advisory Board.
"Gallant is an important addition to the IDT Biologika family both for its proprietary research and development in bacterial and viral vaccines," says Andreas Kastenbauer, Managing Director of IDT Biologika, "and also for its thorough market expertise, customer relations and network within the Canadian livestock industry. Gallant also has important collaborations with renowned academic institutions in the field of animal health vaccines, a key strength that we will continue to expand in the future."
Jackie Gallant sees many advantages for her company in the new relationship with IDT and integration into its Animal Health division: "As part of IDT, Gallant will now have opportunities to provide new technologies and services to the Canadian animal health market. The current business will continue to thrive and grow with new investment from IDT. I see this as a perfect match of skills and expertise. Although IDT is much larger, it maintains a family-owned business philosophy that fits well into the existing culture at Gallant."
"Gallant Custom Laboratories will play a key role in our Global Animal Health Strategy, as it provides IDT excellent access to the Canadian and North American veterinary vaccine market. We will invest in the expansion of the Gallant autogenous vaccine business by increasing the laboratories, R&D and manufacturing services offered, and also in the submission and launch of our innovative commercial vaccine range in North America," adds Kastenbauer.
About IDT Biologika
IDT Biologika is an innovative, privately-held life science company with more than 93 years history and expertise in Research, Development and Manufacturing of biologics for the global protection of human and animal health. Headquartered in Dessau-Rosslau, Germany, the company holds an additional animal health vaccine dedicated R&D and Manufacturing location in Greifswald -- district Riems. In Denmark, the Netherlands, France and Spain, IDT's Animal Health Business Unit operates through its own subsidiaries.
In its recently acquired US manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland, IDT Biologika GmbH primarily works on vaccine development for clinical phase 1 and 2 projects and provides early development capabilities for the human vaccine market. In the 2014 financial year, IDT Biologika GmbH achieved sales of approximately EUR 172 million with its animal health, vaccines, and pharmaceutical business segments and its quality control division, an approximately 14 percent increase in business compared to the previous year. IDT Biologika currently has some 1,500 employees.
IDT Biologika is a company of the Klocke Holding Group. The Klocke Holding Group companies specialize in contract manufacturing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and cosmetic products. With more than 2,100 employees at six locations in Europe and the USA, the family-owned Klocke Group offers comprehensive services for production and packaging of pharmaceutical products.