SmithKline Beckman and International Minerals & Chemical...

SmithKline Beckman and International Minerals & Chemical each have acquired slightly more than 6% of Synbiotics’ outstanding common shares during the past few weeks, Synbiotics said Thursday.

SmithKline Beckman acquired 280,000 shares of Synbiotics stock to “encourage commercial relationships” with Synbiotics, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. International Minerals & Chemicals Corp. now holds 294,100 shares of Synbiotics stock.

The companies are now the San Diego-based biotechnology company’s largest shareholders, according to Synbiotics President Edward Maggio.

The stock purchases will “accelerate our technology development and product introductions,” Maggio said Thursday.