1968

Creation of the SARL Virbac biological research center.

1970

Virbac starts marketing its products internationally, thanks to distribution partnerships in Benelux and Germany.

1970

Virbac develops the first insecticide collar for dogs, which would later become one of the Group’s flagship products.

1973

Virbac constructs the first building of its future headquarters in Carros, near Nice, quickly adding a production and storage unit and a loading dock.

1977

Virbac offers the first cephalosporin in veterinary medicine (for dogs, cats and cattle), in France, thus providing an alternative to the cephalosporins derived from human pharmaceuticals.

1982

In response to the viral gastroenteritis epidemic decimating dog breeding, Virbac creates the first parvovirus-based vaccine approved for dogs, thus entering the very exclusive club of innovative vaccine-developing laboratories.

1982

Opening of the first subsidiary in Germany, following acquisition of local distributor VMG, thus marking the beginning of Virbac’s deployment in Europe.

1985

Virbac, the number-two French animal health laboratory, starts to trade on the secondary market of the Paris stock exchange.

1987

With the acquisition of Allerderm Inc., Virbac enters the US market, where it specializes in the new veterinary dermatology market and becomes a global leader a few years later.

1988

With the first genetically engineered vaccine against feline leukemia made from a purified p45 FeLV-envelope retrovirus, Virbac provides veterinarians with an effective solution against a disease in cats for which there was no cure at the time.

1989

Virbac acquires Imperial Dog, a dog and cat food manufacturer, founded by the creator of Royal Canin, now Virbac Nutrition.

1991

In Europe, Virbac offers the first oral anti-rabies vaccine for foxes, obtained by selective mutation.

1992

Veterinarian doctor Pierre-Richard Dick, founder of Virbac, dies suddenly at the age of 55 while on a Central American sea voyage. Pascal Boissy, then financial director, succeeds him to head the company. Six months later, the company adopts a new organizational structure made up of an executive board and a supervisory board, of which Jeanine Dick, wife of the founder, become chairwoman.

1992

Virbac continues its international expansion with the creation of its first subsidiary in Asia (a partnership with Maruyasu, a Japanese import-export company).

1996

Numerous companies created to develop the company on French territory merge into a single subsidiary, Virbac France, formalizing the beginning of the Virbac umbrella brand.

1998

Through its “I love my pet, I vaccinate it” poster campaign, Virbac raises the general public’s awareness of vaccination in France.

1999

Eric Marée, 48 years old, graduate of HEC and holder of an MBA from Cornell University in the United States, becomes chairman of the Virbac executive board.

1999

Thanks to the acquisition of Agri-Nutrition, a company based in St. Louis (Missouri), Virbac acquires a range of dental care and hygiene products.

2001

Virbac offers veterinarians the first interferon omega for dogs and cats in Europe.

2001

The Pierre-Richard Dick Foundation, created in 1993 after the founder’s death, becomes the Virbac Corporate Foundation. Chaired by his son, Jean-Pierre Dick, it aims to raise public awareness, educate and inform, especially children, about issues related to the integration and well-being of animals in cities.

2001

Virbac joins Jean-Pierre Dick, son of the founder and doctor of veterinary medicine, on his sailing adventure: through his involvement in epic races, the skipper helps to enhance the veterinary profession and promote animal health.

2006

Marie-Hélène Dick, daughter of the founder, veterinary doctor and MBA graduate from HEC, is named chairwoman of Virbac’s supervisory board.

2006

Virbac becomes number one in India through the acquisition of Agrivet Farm Care, the animal health branch of GlaxoSmithKline.

2008

With 7 production units, Virbac currently has an industrial park on all five continents (France, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, South Africa and Vietnam).

2008

Virbac offers veterinarians the first deslorelin-based implant for the induction of temporary infertility in male dogs.

2010

Virbac signs an agreement with Pfizer Inc. to acquire the Australian rights to a range of products for food producing animals, primarily parasiticides and vaccines for cattle and sheep.

2011

Virbac launches the first vaccine against canine leishmaniasis in Europe.

2012

Virbac acquires a majority share of Centrovet, animal health market leader in Chile, expert in the development and production of innovative products for the protection and treatment of cold water aquaculture farms (salmon and trout).

2015

Virbac acquires Schweitzer Biotech Company, a Taiwanese company that is an expert in the development of cell culture banks serving as the basis for production of viral vaccines primarily for swine and poultry. This acquisition formalizes the creation of a new biology R&D structure in Southeast Asia, a region recognized for the largest swine and aquaculture (warm water) markets on the planet.

2015

The Virbac Corporate Foundation, aware of the challenges related to the interconnection between animal, human, and environmental health, initiates support for a screening, control, and prevention program for bovine tuberculosis and rabies in the Gonarezhou Park (Zimbabwe).

2016

After the construction of VB8 in Carros in 2014, a production building dedicated to the manufacture of sterile injectables, Virbac continues to invest in quality and to strengthen its production capacities with Argo Navis, VB8’s alter ego in Mexico.

2017

After the physiological range in 2016, Virbac launches a range of dietetic petfood for dogs and cats. Their composition is particularly suited to the dietary needs of carnivores.

2017

At the helm of St. Michel-Virbac, Jean-Pierre Dick wins his fourth Jacques Vabre Race (a first in the history of the Coffee Race). This victory marks a turning point in the life of the sailor and the most fitting closure to his 17 years of adventures around the world, flying Virbac’s colors.

2017

Sébastien Huron, 47 years old, doctor of veterinary medicine, head of Global Business Operations, and member of the executive board since 2012, succeeds Éric Marée as chairman of Virbac.

2018

In September, Virbac celebrates its 50^th anniversary. Along with the family of its founder, nearly 3,000 connected employees share in a two-day event that unfolds in an atmosphere of warmth, intercultural sharing and engagement in the service of animal health

2018

Virbac makes a food supplement available in several Asian countries (Taiwan, Vietnam, The Philippines, South Korea and Thailand) to improve the survival of piglets from birth to ten days old. 

2018

Virbac wins a Pharmapack Europe Award for the Smart Cap, a cap for safe extraction of liquid products (also recognized by the ADF Paris Awards in 2019).

2018

Virbac includes in its range of chews the first dental technology that targets both the oral and digestive causes of bad breath (Fr3sh).

2019

Virbac provides a preventive solution in several Asian countries against porcine circovirus, a virus responsible for significant losses in farms. Developed by the Virbac teams with the genotype predominant in most regions of the world, this vaccine helps limit the impact of this disease in one of the world's most important swine production areas