Elanco Animal Health's decision to sell its aqua division will narrow its focus on pet health and livestock sustainability, as management prepares to launch several new products this year. ELAN 1Y mountain Elanco stock over the past year. One area it identified is pet health, a $15 billion market that has benefited from increasing pet ownership, especially among people who see their pets as family and value their animals' health care. 'Flexibility' to invest behind launches The product launches will also give Elanco a chance to prove itself. The pet health business is very competitive and, once approved, Zenrelia will compete directly with rival Zoetis' Apoquel.

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Persons: Elanco, Jeff Simmons, Simmons, Credelio, Cornell University's Richard P, FactSet, Chris Schott, ELAN, Schott, Jefferies, Glen Santangelo, Eli Lilly, Jasper Hellweg, Hellweg, Zenrelia, Zoetis, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Merck, CNBC, ELAN, Riney Canine Health, JPMorgan, Argus Locations: U.S