Description
Elanco Animal Health Incorporated is an American pharmaceutical company which produces medicines and vaccinations for pets and livestock. Until 2019, the company was a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, before being divested.
History
The company can trace its roots back to the mid-1950s when Eli Lilly introduced their first antibiotic aimed at veterinary usage with the new plant and animal sciences research being combined into Lilly's Agro-Industrial division. In the 1960s the Agro-Industrial division was reorganised, launching Elanco Products Company.
The 1970s marked a decade of expansion for the business, increasing international operations to 38 global affiliates and 17 manufacturing locations. In the 1980s research moved to away from plant sciences and focused on animal health and food quality. In the 1990s another reorganisation led to the company being renamed Elanco Animal Health, focusing solely on animal health.
In 2007 the business acquired Ivy Animal Health and launched its companion animal business. In 2008 Elanco partnered with Heifer International in order to address food security in developing nations. In 2009 the business launched its data analytics business, Elanco Knowledge Solutions.
In 2010 the business acquired the European rights to a portfolio of Pfizer Animal Health treatments and an Irish manufacturing site. In 2011, Elanco expanded its footprint in Europe, acquiring Janssen Animal Health and committed to ending hunger for 100,000 families through the Heifer International partnership. In 2012 the business acquired ChemGen Corp., improving their offering in enzyme-based nutrient absorption tools for food-livestock. In 2014, the business acquired Lohmann SE and Lohmann Animal Health for an undisclosed sum and Novartis Animal Health for $5.4 billion, the former boosting Elanco's poultry and vaccine business and the latter increasing a broad spectrum of treatments across companion animal, livestock, vaccine and aquaculture offerings. In 2016 Elanco expanded its US-based business, acquiring a suite of vaccines from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica for $885 million.
In 2018, Lilly announced plans to separate its Elanco Animal Health unit from the rest of the business via an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, with the stock-ticker ELAN. In 2019, the divestiture was completed and Elanco launched on the New York Stock Exchange. In the same year the US FDA approved the first canine lymphoma treatment. The business continued to expand is US-business, acquiring Aratana Therapeutics, and its first-in-class treatment for canine osteoarthritis. Elanco also announced it would acquire the developer of vaccines for bacterial disease prevention in food-animals, Prevtec Microbia, Inc. In the same year the business announced it would acquire Bayer’s animal health business for $7.6 billion.
On December 3, 2020, Elanco announced plans to build a new global headquarters in Indianapolis at the site of the former GM stamping plant, which is located across the White River from the downtown area. The business plans to break ground on the new headquarters in the first half of 2021.
