Animal Health News & Notes for August 6, 2010

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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for August 6, 2010
Copyright © Brakke Consulting, Inc.
 
Editor: Lynn Fondon, DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:
 
Brakke news
diagnostics report
 
earnings news
Boehringer Ingelheim
Butler Schein Animal Health
Central Garden & Pet
ImmuCell
Pfizer
 
other news
Dechra
Digital Angel – HD.Tag
Digital Angel – restructuring
Geoff Howe
grey healthcare group
Iams
Merial
Neogen
Nylabone
Peptech
Russell Hobbs
scil
Sound-Eklin
Spectrum Brands
 
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KC ANIMAL HEALTH CORRIDOR
HOMECOMING 2010
MONDAY, AUGUST 30
5:30 – 9:00 pm
 
The Kansas City Animal Health Corridor cordially invites the animal health industry to join them for an exclusive gathering of animal health CEOs and industry leaders from across the country at its annual Homecoming Event in Kansas City.  The event will feature an appearance by Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Ohio Zoo and Aquarium.  In addition, the Iron Paw award will be presented to animal health industry leader Bob Wheeler, former CEO of Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
 
To register, go to www.kcanimalhealth.com/homecoming
 
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COMPANY EARNINGS RELEASES
 
> Pfizer Inc. reported financial results for the second quarter of 2010. Animal Health sales were $893 million, an increase of 38% compared to the second quarter of 2009. Legacy Pfizer products increased 8%. (PRNewswire)
 
> Boehringer Ingelheim reported results for the first half of 2010. The Animal Health business achieved net sales of EUR 461 million ($563 million), recording exceptionally strong growth of 61% (56% in local currency terms). Growth was mainly due to the vaccines business, primarily Ingelvac Circoflex, as well as the successful integration of the animal health business taken over from Fort Dodge in the USA at the end of 2009. (company website)
 
> Henry Schein reported results for its second quarter ended June 26. North American Animal Health sales increased 270% to $235 million, which included sales of Butler Schein Animal Health. Integration of the Butler Schein Animal Health business continues to progress according to plan and is expected to be completed during the third quarter. (MarketWatch) 
 
> Central Garden & Pet Company announced results for its third quarter ended June 26, 2010. Fiscal third quarter net sales for the Pet Products segment were $223 million, an increase of 4% compared to the fiscal 2009 period. (Business Wire)
 
> ImmuCell Corporation announced the results of its operations for the three month period ended June 30, 2010.  Product sales increased by 8% to $1.1 million in comparison to the same period in 2009. The net loss was $(6,000) during the three-month period ended June 30, 2010 in comparison to a net loss of $(148,000) during the same period in 2009. (company press release)
 
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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES
 
> Merial Limited announced the launch of Recombitek 4 Lepto, a new 4-way vaccine that provides protection against Leptospira grippotyphosa for 15 months and prevents shedding of Leptospira spirochetes in the urine. Specifically the vaccine is labeled to prevent disease caused by L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. canicola, and L. grippotyphosa. It also aids in the prevention of disease caused by L. Pomona. (company press release)
 
> Neogen Corporation announced that it is now offering its same rapid test for Salmonella that has been time-tested in the food industry to the animal health industry. NeogenVet Salmonella Assay is an adaptation of Neogen’s proven GeneQuence technology for use with environmental veterinary samples. (company press release)
 
> Dechra Veterinary Products and Peptech Animal Health Pty Limited announced the signing of a license agreement for Ovuplant, a subcutaneous implant containing the active ingredient deslorelin acetate utilized to induce ovulation in mares.  Ovuplant was previously marketed in the US and is still registered with the Center for Veterinary Medicine; however, it has not been sold in the US since 2004 awaiting a new manufacturing site. (company press release)
 
> Procter & Gamble Co. announced it has expanded its recall of dry pet food to include specialized varieties that may be contaminated with Salmonella. The company is recalling the following varieties of dry food: Iams Veterinary dry formulas, Eukanuba Naturally Wild, Eukanuba Pure and Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin formula. (CVM)
 
> Spectrum Brands Inc. announced the completion of its planned merger with Russell Hobbs Inc.  The new company will operate under the name Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc.  As part of the merger, Russell Hobbs’ Littermaid brand joined Spectrum’s United Pet Group business unit. (Pet Age)
 
> Digital Angel announced that it will eliminate its corporate structure, including a leased headquarters in Florida and several executive positions, in response to its growing focus on its Destron Fearing animal identification business. The company will have headquarters at Destron Fearing offices in South St Paul, MN. (Feedstuffs)
 
> Digital Angel announced that the Destron Fearing HD.Tag, a line of electronic identification tags using HDX technology, has been approved by the USDA. The technology is also ISO approved and compatible for international use. (Business Wire)
 
> scil animal care company, inc. announced the launch of the V1 Plus Vital Signs Monitor with exciting features such as EtCO2 (capnography) capabilities and a larger numerical data display. (company press release)
 
> Sound-Eklin announced the launch of its new line of small animal digital radiography systems, the TruDR eSeries. (PRWeb)
 
> Nylabone announced the launch of Healthy Living Dog Chews, a new line of edible chew products. (Pet Business)
 
> Grey healthcare group (ghg) announced its acquisition of Geoff Howe Marketing Communications. The joining of these two companies allows ghg to both broaden its offerings in the health and wellness segment and strengthen its animal health roster. (PRNewswire)
 
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BRAKKE CONSULTING, INC.
COMING SOON: TRENDS IN DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES
 
Increases in use of sophisticated diagnostic equipment and services represent a growth opportunity for veterinary clinics and the companies that supply them.  The products category appears to have weathered the recessionary storm better than one would have expected. 
 
Brakke Consulting’s report on Veterinary Diagnostic Equipment and Services will cover the competitive landscape, including:
–          Market share trends
–          Technology sources and alliances
–          Revenue and profitability of the category
–          Equipment placement trends
–          Company profiles
–          2010 survey of small animal veterinarians regarding use of in-house and reference laboratory diagnostic options and plans to add equipment this year
 
TRENDS IN DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES 2010 will be available within 90 days.  Questions about the study can be answered by project manager John Mannhaupt at 972-243-4033, or email jmannhaupt@brakkeconsulting.com
 
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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS
 
> US – FDA GUIDANCE  The FDA announced the availability of a draft guidance for FDA staff entitled “Compliance Policy Guide Sec. 690.800 Salmonella in Animal Feed’’. The draft Compliance Policy Guide proposes criteria that should be considered in recommending enforcement action against animal feed or feed ingredients that are adulterated due to the presence of Salmonella. The FDA would like to receive any comments on the Draft Compliance Guide by November 1, 2010 before the FDA begins work on the final version. (APPA E-update)
 
> US – PET ASSOCIATIONS  The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) announced that the American Pet Products Association (APPA), Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA) and World Pet Association (WPA) have renewed their memberships in PIJAC after the groups parted ways in 2009. (Pet Age) 
 
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147th AVMA CONVENTION
JULY 31 – AUGUST 3
ATLANTA
 
This year’s AVMA Convention was held this week in Atlanta.  More than 9,000 attendees and 250 exhibitors were present at the event, surpassing the attendance at the 2009 convention. Veterinarians had the opportunity to earn up to 40 CE credit hours at the meeting.
 
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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
 
Like many of you, several of us at Brakke Consulting have just returned from the AVMA Convention in Atlanta.  We continue to hear optimistic reports about business for the remainder of 2010.
 
The end of this month brings us the KC Animal Health Corridor’s Homecoming Event in conjunction with the Central Veterinary Conference in Kansas City.  We hope that many of you have already made your plans to attend. Enjoy what’s sure to be an entertaining evening, then stay on to learn about a variety of emerging technologies at the second annual Animal Health Investment Forum the next day.  The Investment Forum is an unparalleled opportunity to hear from over 20 early-stage animal health companies in a single venue. We hope to see you there!
 
Stay cool and have a great week.     
 
Lynn Fondon
 
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Brakke Consulting, Inc.
2735 Villa Creek, Suite 140
Dallas, TX  75234    USA