The confirmation to sell some of the animal health assets to the privately-held German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim was given Monday by U. S. drugmakers Pfizer Inc and Wyeth.

It should be noted that the divestiture is part of the regulatory approval process linked with Pfizer's planned $68 billion acquisition of Wyeth, which is likely to close in the fourth quarter.

As per the Pfizer spokeswoman Joan Campion, "Products being sold to Boehringer represent less than 10 percent of the combined companies' revenue from animal health assets." She did not disclose terms of the deal though.

It has been seen that from quite some time now, drugmakers are depending a lot on animal health for making revenue. In 2008, Wyeth posted $1.08 billion in animal health sales, a sum of $2.83 billion as revenue was reported by Pfizer from its animal health business in the same year.

Pfizer specified that cattle and small animal vaccines and some animal health pharmaceuticals are primarily included in the products being divested.

Pfizer's Palladia, which recently became the first approved cancer treatment specifically designed for dogs, will not be included in the deal and will be retained by Pfizer.

Camion said: "Boehringer Ingelheim will also acquire research and manufacturing facilities, located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, as well as related assets and intellectual property, primarily from Wyeth's Fort Dodge Animal Health portfolio in the United States and Canada."

While the agreement with Boehringer is subject to U. S. and Canadian regulatory approval, Pfizer is hoping to acquire the permission shortly and close the transaction early in the fourth quarter.