Paramus, NJ, October 29, 2013 – WG Critical Care, LLC, a fully integrated pharmaceutical company, announced today that it and its affiliate, HQ Specialty Pharma Corporation, signed an agreement with West Agro, Inc. to acquire the rights for QUARTERMASTER^® Suspension (penicillin-dihydrostreptomycin in oil), FDA approved, for intramammary use to reduce the frequency of existing infection and to prevent new infections with Staphylococcus aureus in dry cows.

"Mastitis in cows has a significant impact on the global dairy industry, adversely affecting both the quality and quantity of dairy products, ultimately resulting in lower consumer confidence and reduced profits for dairy farmers," said Vincent M. Durante, Senior Vice President, WG Critical Care. "For almost forty years, QUARTERMASTER Suspension has been trusted by veterinarians and producers to help prevent the likelihood of intramammary infections during the critical dry-off period in the bovine lactation cycle. WG Critical Care is committed to ensuring that this highly valued product continues to be available for the treatment and prevention of mastitis in dairy cows.”

Durante continued, "As discussed in a study that assessed intramammary infections postcalving, cure of preexisting infections over the dry period, prevention of new infections during the dry period, and risk for a clinical mastitis case between calving and 100 days in milk, there was no difference in efficacy between QUARTERMASTER Suspension and a third-generation cephalosporin in affecting a bacteriological cure. In the context of promoting prudent use of antimicrobials, the authors discussed the potential value of making first-generation antimicrobials like QUARTERMASTER Suspension the first choice for prophylactic treatment of dry cows.¹"