Merial, the animal health division of Sanofi, is expanding its global manufacturing plant in Paulinia, Brazil, to support the global demand for Nexgard, a monthly, beef-flavored chew for the treatment of flea and tick infestations in dogs. The company is investing $25 million in the manufacturing plant expansion. The investment will triple the current manufacturing capacity to include 1,950 square meters of additional production rooms and related technology to meet the global demands for the product. Merial expects to complete construction in early 2015.

After the successful launches this year in the US, Europe, and Japan, Merial is preparing to launch the products in other countries globally. The Paulinia site is projected to export the product to more than 100 countries globally in the future.

As part of the investment, the manufacturing expansion will also create about 85 new jobs, bringing the total workforce at the site to over 450 people. The site is part of Merial's global manufacturing network, which operates 18 sites in nine countries worldwide.

The active ingredient in Nexgard is afoxolaner, a compound from the isoxazoline family, which acts as an ectoparasiticide, meaning that it kills parasites, such as fleas and ticks, which live on the skin or in the fur of animals. It is intended to kill fleas fast before they can lay eggs and provides lasting protection against ticks, according to the company.

Source: Merial