SmithKline Animal Health Laboratories

SmithKline Animal Health was the veterinary medicine division of SmithKline Beecham, specializing in the development and manufacture of pharmaceuticals and vaccines for livestock and companion animals. The company was a leader in the parasiticide market, most notably with the broad-spectrum anthelmintic Valbazen. Its portfolio also included significant vaccine lines for cattle and swine, addressing major agricultural health challenges. In 1995, the division was acquired by Pfizer for $1.45 billion as part of SmithKline Beecham's strategic shift toward human healthcare. This acquisition played a critical role in the eventual formation of Zoetis, currently the world's largest animal health company.