Pfizer Animal Health has announced the acquisition of Microtek International Inc. which further expands Pfizer's commitment to a safe food supply from health beef and dairy cattle, swine, poultry and, now, fish.

Total global fish production now exceeds that of pork, poultry, beef or dairy. Farmed fish production is becoming increasingly important in meeting global demand and is anticipated to account for 55% of total fish production by 2017, according to industry sources. 

According to Pfizer president Juan Ramon Alaix, the integration of Microtek R&D into Pfizer will allow the company to build a more diverse and innovative portfolio in biopharmaceuticals.

Meanwhile, Microtek president and chief executive officer William Kay, Ph.D., will continue to serve Pfizer in a consultant role. Terms of Pfizer Animal Health's acquisition of Microtek were not disclosed. 

Alaix said during the last three years, Pfizer Animal Health has continued to expand its commitment to a safe food supply.

In addition to acquiring last year a substantial portion of Wyeth/Fort Dodge Animal Health's biological and pharmaceutical R&D, manufacturing and food animal products and services.

Earlier this year, Pfizer expanded into global, animal health generic medicines by acquiring R&D and a product line-up from Vetnex Animal Health Limited in India; as well as in 2008, established Pfizer Animal Genetics, helping breeders focus on high-quality beef cattle production with genetic markers, by acquiring R&D and technology from Catapult Genetics, Pty., Ltd., in Australia, and Bovigen, LLC, in the US. In 2007, the company enhanced a growing Pfizer Poultry Health business by acquiring R&D and innovative in-ovo vaccination technology from Embrex, Inc, in the US.

Microtek International, Inc. is a privately-held company based in British Columbia, Canada, with commercialised vaccines across a number of fish species. Novel, efficient vaccine injection, oral or immersion delivery systems help to ensure long-term protection of disease in fish across Canada, the US, Chile, and parts of Europe.