York-based Animalcare Group plc, the international animal health business, said on Tuesday its revenue increased 13.3% to £39.1 million in the six months to June 30, 2021, and profit before tax rose 3.7% to £791,000.

Animalcare declared an interim dividend of 2p per share, in line with 2020.

Animalcare CEO Jenny Winter said: “We delivered a very strong set of results for the first six months supported by growing demand in our Companion Animals segment.

“Increased revenues and profit fed through to improvements in our balance sheet, further strengthening the group’s capacity to pursue value-creating opportunities that align with our growth strategy.

“Encouraged by the trading momentum carried into the third quarter we are confident that profit performance will be ahead of current market expectations for the full year.

“Animalcare achieved a major milestone for our development pipeline in the first half with Daxocox receiving marketing approval across EU markets and in the UK.

“We are now in the early launch phase and have committed to increase investment as we maximise the potential of this differentiated new pain treatment over the coming years.

“The positive trading results and the strategic progress made in the first half are a credit to the commitment, focus and agility of our employees across the group.”