FTC Requests Public Comment on Merck & Co., Inc.’s Application to Approve Sale of Facilities for Manufacturing Heartgard and Heartgard Plus Heartworm Treatments for Dogs

The Federal Trade Commission is currently accepting public comments on an application by Merck & Co., Inc. to sell assets and properties in Puerto Rico it uses to manufacture Heartgard and Heartgard Plus to  Merial Barceloneta LLC, a subsidiary of Merial Inc. The sale requires the prior approval of the Commission under the FTC’s October 2009 order settling charges that Schering-Plough’s acquisition of Merck was anticompetitive.

According to the application, Merck has supplied Merial with Heartgard Products using the Barceloneta manufacturing facility since 1989, and the transaction to sell the assets to Merial will provide certainty over the cost and production of its own product.

The Commission will decide whether to approve the proposed divestiture after expiration of a 30-day public comment period. Public comments may be submitted until January 22, 2015. Written comments should be sent to: FTC Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Comments can also be filed electronically.

Copies of the application can be found on the FTC’s website and as a link to this press release. (FTC File No. 091 0075, Docket No. C-4268; the staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2526)

The FTC’s Bureau of Competition works with the Bureau of Economics to investigate alleged anticompetitive business practices and, when appropriate, recommends that the Commission take law enforcement action. To inform the Bureau about particular business practices, call 202-326-3300, send an e-mail to antitrust{at}ftc{dot}gov, or write to the Office of Policy and Coordination, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room CC-5422, Washington, DC 20580. To learn more about the Bureau of Competition, read Competition Counts. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.