Elanco acquires swine vaccine company
GREENFIELD — Elanco Animal Health Incorporated announced on its website that it has acquired Montreal-based Prevtec Microbia Inc., a biotechnology startup specializing in the development of vaccines that help prevent bacterial diseases in food animals.
Prevtec is the maker of the Coliprotec line of vaccine products designed to protect pigs against post-weaning diarrhea and associated clinical signs caused by E. coli.
E. coli is a highly prevalent pathogen causing disease in swine production without effective non-antibiotic control options. It affects up to 50 percent of all weaned pigs, leading to diarrhea, suppressed appetite, weight loss and mortality. The disease has a considerable effect on animal well-being and is a major cause of economic loss for swine operations.
Under the terms of the agreement, Elanco acquired the company, including inventory and pipeline assets in an all-cash deal for $78.5 million Canadian, or about $59.9 million U.S.
Pet grooming boutique expanding
McCORDSVILLE — A McCordsville pet grooming boutique that has outgrown its current spot is moving to a larger location, where it will also add services and products.
DeTails Pet Grooming, currently at 6130 W. Broadway, McCordsville, plans to expand to 6733 W. County Road 750N. There, the business will retrofit an existing barn of about 1,800 square feet and add an existing 3,000 to 4,200 square feet, according to a report from the McCordsville Department of Planning and Building.
The property will not only offer dog grooming, but also a dog day care, small retail area for shampoos and other grooming supplies, small dog treat bakery for online sales and a lobby. There will also be enclosed dog runs directly south of the building.
DeTails expects the expansion to double its workforce to 14 employees.
In July, the McCordsville Plan Commission voted to forward a favorable recommendation to the town council on a planned unit development allowing for the project.
Leadership group hires new coordinator
Jason Wells has joined Leadership Hancock County as its new coordinator.
Wells is a registered nurse for Hancock Health and serves as its professional and organizational development coordinator. He graduated from Leadership Hancock County in 2018.
Wells replaces David Hill, who stepped down after becoming editor of the Daily Reporter.
Leadership Hancock County is an eight-month program for emerging leaders in business, nonprofits, government, education and other organizations. Enrollees learn about Hancock County and also study key leadership traits and techniques in monthly daylong seminars. The 2019-20 class begins next month.
County’s unemployment rate rises slightly in June
HANCOCK COUNTY — June’s unemployment rate in Hancock County rose a little from May’s but was still lower year over year, much like the state and the country.
Hancock County’s June unemployment rate was 3 percent, up from May’s 2.6 percent but down from June 2018’s 3.4 percent. The county came in at No. 61 on a list of Indiana’s 92 counties ranking June 2019 unemployment rates from highest to lowest. Fayette County topped list at 4.7 percent while Gibson County was lowest at 2.5 percent.
Indiana’s June unemployment rate was 3.3 percent, up from May’s 2.9 percent but still down from June 2018’s 3.7 percent. The U.S. June unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, up from May’s 3.4 percent but still down from June 2018’s 4.2 percent.
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported that private employment in June preliminarily hit more than 2.75 million — a new high for the state and besting the previous record set in February.
Private employment in Indiana grew by 37,000, or 1.4 percent year-over-year, when the number stood at more than 2.7 million in June 2018.
The biggest employment gains in June came from the private educational and health services (5,000) and the professional and business services (1,100) sectors.
