Global animal health company receives grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to advance the health and productivity of livestock in Africa
Zoetis
Inc. (NYSE:ZTS), the largest global animal health company, announced
it will receive a US$14.4 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation over the next three years to develop veterinary diagnostic
networks and animal health infrastructure in Ethiopia, Nigeria and
Uganda.
The grant will enable Zoetis to develop veterinary laboratory networks
and outreach services to increase the availability of local veterinary
medicines and services; implement sustainable disease diagnostics; and
strengthen local veterinary expertise.
“We believe the combination of Zoetis’ leadership in animal health and
experience in forging broad collaborations in emerging markets will
allow us to accelerate the advancement of animal health in the region,”
said Juan Ramón Alaix, Chief Executive Officer of Zoetis. “Access to
medicines and technology will help farmers raise healthier animals and
secure more sustainable revenue, which is critical to the economic
development of the region and well-being of its population.”
As one of the most rapidly developing regions in the world, Sub-Saharan
Africa is also home to some of the largest livestock populations in the
world – and the highest density of impoverished livestock farmers.1
Livestock are an essential asset to rural communities and the health of
livestock is critical to achieving food security in areas of
exceptionally high animal and human disease incidence.
This program, funded by the foundation, will be called the African
Livestock Productivity and Health Advancement (A.L.P.H.A.) initiative.
Zoetis will collaborate with governmental authorities, local veterinary
associations, national and international NGOs, farmer associations and
the private sector to maximize its ability to positively impact the
region. Over the course of three years, Zoetis will use the progress
made and key learnings to work towards a longer-term sustainable
business model and animal health infrastructure for livestock farmers in
the region.
About Zoetis
Zoetis
is the leading animal health company, dedicated to supporting its
customers and their businesses. Building on more than 60 years of
experience in animal health, Zoetis discovers, develops, manufactures
and markets veterinary vaccines and medicines, complemented by
diagnostic products, genetic tests, biodevices and a range of services.
Zoetis serves veterinarians, livestock producers and people who raise
and care for farm and companion animals with sales of its products in
more than 100 countries. In 2016, the company generated annual revenue
of $4.9 billion with approximately 9,000 employees. For more
information, visit
www.zoetis.com
.
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Forward-Looking Statements
: This
press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the
current views of Zoetis with respect to business plans or prospects,
future operating or financial performance, future business models,
expectations regarding products or services, and other future
events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or
actions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties
materialize, or if management's underlying assumptions prove to be
incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those contemplated
by a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements speak only as
of the date on which they are made. Zoetis expressly disclaims any
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise. A further list
and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2016, including in the sections thereof captioned “Forward-Looking
Statements and Factors That May Affect Future Results” and “Item 1A.
Risk Factors,” in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our Current
Reports on Form 8-K. These filings and subsequent filings are available
online at
www.sec.gov
,
www.zoetis.com
,
or on request from Zoetis.
1. ILRI, 2012. Mapping of poverty and likely zoonoses
hotspots. [Online] Available at: https://www.ilri.org/node/1244
[Accessed 26th April 2017]
Media:
Anne-France Quentric, +32 227468311 (o)
anne-france.quentric@zoetis.com
Elinore White, 1-973-443-2835 (o)
elinore.y.white@zoetis.com
or
Investor:
Steve Frank, 1-973-822-7141 (o)
steve.frank@zoetis.com