Animal Health News & Notes for September 24, 2010

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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for September 24, 2010
Copyright © Brakke Consulting, Inc.
 
Editor: Lynn Fondon, DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:
 
Brakke news
recruiting
History of the Animal Health Industry
 
earnings news
Neogen
 
other news
Alltech
Animal Health International
Dechra
Intervet/Schering-Plough
Martek Biosciences
Modern Veterinary Therapeutics
Professional Veterinary Products
Pulse Veterinary Technologies
Veterinary Products Laboratories
 
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COMPANY EARNINGS RELEASES
 
> Neogen Corporation announced that its net income for the first quarter of FY 2011, which ended Aug. 31, increased 33% to $5.8 million. First quarter revenues also increased 33% from the previous year to $43 million. About half the increase is attributable to the addition of the BioKits and GeneSeek product lines. Neogen’s Animal Safety Division led the company’s first quarter revenue increase, with sales up 39% to $21 million in FY 2011. (company press release)
 
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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES
 
> Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health announced the approval of Nobivac Lepto4, the first and only four-way canine leptospirosis vaccine to be approved for protecting dogs against mortality. Nobivac Lepto4 was also shown to prevent clinical disease.  The vaccine is indicated to protect dogs from L. canicola, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. pomona and L. grippotyphosa, and is available as a standalone or as a combination vaccine. (Veterinary Practice News)
 
> Veterinary Products Laboratories (VPL) introduced five new sutures in 30 inch lengths to its Ny-Sta and Pro-Sta non-absorbable monofilament lines. (company press release) 
 
> Modern Veterinary Therapeutics announced the launch of Respit, a regionally specific immunotherapy for dogs and cats that does not require allergy testing.   Respit is available only by prescription through a veterinarian, but the weekly injectable treatments can be administered by the pet owner. (company press release)
 
> Animal Health International, Inc. announced that the company hired 23 experienced sales professionals from Professional Veterinary Products, Ltd. (“PVP”), and opened a customer sales and service center in Omaha, Nebraska. In addition, the Company acquired certain strategic assets, including customer lists, from PVP, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on August 20, 2010. (Globe Newswire)
 
> Alltech announced that it has entered into an agreement with supplement maker Martek Biosciences Corporation to acquire a significant portion of the assets at Martek’s Winchester, KY, manufacturing site. The assets to be sold include a majority of the land and buildings at the Winchester site as well as certain equipment therein, including all of the production-scale fermentation and recovery equipment.  Under the terms of the sale agreement, Alltech will pay Martek a total of approximately $14 million over the next four years for the assets to be acquired. (PRNewswire)
 
> Pulse Veterinary Technologies, LLC, announced the launch of its ProTec PRP Injectable System, based on an exclusive license for the veterinary field from Cascade Medical Enterprises, LLC. The license includes Cascade’s proprietary family of Platelet Rich Fibrin Matrix (PRFM) products which PulseVet will target for the minimally-invasive management of musculoskeletal disorders causing chronic pain and lameness in veterinary patients, primarily horses and dogs. (Business Wire)
 
> UK  Dechra Veterinary Products introduced two additional new products in the UK to its Veterinary Essentials range, Alvegesic Vet (butorphanol) and Clavudale (amoxicillin  potentiated with clavulanic acid).  (company website)
 
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BRAKKE CONSULTING, INC.
EXECUTIVE AND SALES FORCE RECRUITING
 
Since 1986 Brakke Consulting, Inc. has successfully assisted many clients in acquiring exceptional employees at all levels, in the many departments of animal health, pet, veterinary and specialty chemical companies.   We pre-qualify candidates, allowing clients to choose from a few of the best applicants for a position.  Our approach increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the Human Resources Departments of client companies.
 
For more information, go to www.BrakkeConsulting.com.
 
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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS
 
> TURKEY GENOME   An international consortium of researchers has completed the majority of the genome sequence of the domestic turkey, the third bird to have its genome sequenced.  The results were published in the September 7 edition of PLos Biology. (Feedstuffs)
 
> US – CANCER RESEARCH   Veterinary researchers from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine have discovered a molecule that is capable of blocking cancer cells from using glutamine, an amino acid that cancerous cells need to grow. Dubbed 968 by the researchers, the molecule binds to the enzyme glutaminase and blocks the cancer cell’s use of the nutrient. 968 was able to shrink tumor cell size in mice. (DVM360)
 
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BRAKKE CONSULTING, INC.
LOOKING FOR HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS?
 
Copies of Brakke Consulting’s book chronicling the history of the US animal health industry are still available!  Reasonably priced at $35 per copy, these gift-quality books make great holiday gifts for employees and clients.
 
For more information on The U.S. Animal Health Industry: Its pioneers and legacy of innovation, visit the What’s New section of our website at www.BrakkeConsulting.com or contact Jane Morgan at jmorgan@brakkeconsulting.com
 
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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
You can tell it’s a slow week in the animal health news area when we have to have to fill the space with ads for Brakke Consulting services.  One area of news this week not covered in the newsletter was the probability that corn will hit $5.00 per bushel and stay there until the 2011 crop.  The USDA has continued to estimate the 2010 crop downward from prior estimates. The expanding consumption of corn for ethanol with the reduced crop will have a negative impact on the cost of producing animal protein for at least the next few months. This could have some negative impact on the firms selling health products to producers.  Couple higher costs of meat production with an economy that cannot pick up speed and we could be in for another year of slow growth. 
 
I wanted to use the comments this week to thank all of you that have purchased our history book on the US animal health industry.  We’ve received many compliments on the quality and content of the book.  We still have a limited number of books left from the first printing.  If you’re planning on purchasing more books this fall for friends or employees gifts we’d encourage you do sooner versus later. 
 
Have a great weekend!!
 
Ron Brakke
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For more information about Brakke Consulting’s services and syndicated studies, visit our website at www.brakkeconsulting.com.
 
Brakke Consulting, Inc.
2735 Villa Creek, Suite 140
Dallas, TX  75234    USA