Annual financial report 2007 - Virbac

Key events 2007JanuarytUnited States: Iverhart Max gets people talkingLaunch of Iverhart Max at the North American VeterinaryConference: a major innovation on the American internalparasiticides market. Product differentiation (overall protectionagainst roundworm, tapeworm and heartworm) combined withstrong commercial and marketing support explains its successamong American veterinary surgeons.Asia: Virbac makes progress on the fish farming marketVirbac has been the owner of Bio Solution International since4 January. This is a Thai company that specialises in aquacultureproducts. With this acquisition, the Group has strengthened itsdevelopment in the fish farming sector in Asia (85% of the worldmarket).JuneEurope: a revolution in the air!After obtaining centralised European marketing authorisation,Cortavance ® (a new corticoid for topical use in responseto pruriginous inflammatory dermatosis) was launched in24 European countries in 2007. With this major innovation,Virbac has confirmed its status as a pioneer in dermatology.JulyGroup: R&D synergy eDefinition of a global research and development strategy onthe companion animal market which incorporates AmericanR&D. This new approach should offer two major benefits:the building of a portfolio of common projects and the sharingof R&D resources between France and USA.oSeptemberEurope: the Working Style, a new commercial standard rPresentation to all European subsidiaries and implementationof the Working Style. This charter on Virbac’s goodmarketing/sales practices aims to increase the Group’scompetitiveness by developing knowledge of the customerand by handling the commercial relationship better.Australia: a significant year tOn 14 September, all the employees of the Australiansubsidiary and their partners met for a gala dinner attendedby Éric Marée, on the subsidiary’s 20 th anniversary andthe inauguration of its new premises. After 20 years, VirbacAustralia is ranked in sixth place locally with sales of overAUD 40 million. Its next aim is to make the top 5.OctoberEurope: Milteforan ® , first oral treatment for leishmaniasisLaunch of a treatment against canine leishmaniasis* in the fourmain countries affected by this disease (Greece, Italy, Spain andPortugal). The oral administration of the product, miltefosine’smethod of action and the packaging designed for optimum safetyon use make Milteforan ® an innovative response on a growthmarket.Europe: Virbac, pioneer on the prostate market uAfter obtaining centralised European marketing authorisation,Ypozane ® , a specific treatment against benign prostatichyperplasia in dogs, is marketed in France, Belgium andGermany. This launch should allow the creation of a new marketin Europe by educating veterinary surgeons in this very widespreadbut little diagnosed disease.e4• 2007 ANNUAL REPORT