Animal Health News & Notes for February 11, 2011

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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for February 11, 2011
Copyright © Brakke Consulting, Inc.
 
Editor: Lynn Fondon, DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:
 
Brakke news
2011 Industry Overview
 
earnings news
Animal Health Int’l
ImmuCell
Merial
Spectrum Brands
Tyson
 
other news
Abbott
Butler
Hill’s
Innovacyn
Intervet/Schering-Plough
The Maschhoffs
NPP
Pfizer
SCD Probiotics
Virbac
Webster
Wedgewood Pharmacy
 
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REGISTER NOW FOR
BRAKKE CONSULTING’S 2011 INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
AT WVC
ONLINE REGISTRATION ENDS WEDNESDAY, FEB 16!
 
Brakke Consulting will be presenting its annual US Animal Health Industry Overview at the Western Veterinary Conference in 2011.
 
WVC Overview
Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Place: The Four Seasons Hotel, Las Vegas
 
To register online, go to www.brakkeconsulting.com by Wednesday, February 16 and look for the Overview link in the “What’s New” box.  Payment by major credit card is required at time of registration.  After February 16, please call 972-243-4033 to register.
 
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COMPANY EARNINGS RELEASES
 
> sanofi-aventis reported results for the full year 2010. Full-year 2010 net sales of Merial reached $2.64 billion, up 2.6% (+3.2% on a reported basis). (company website)
 
> ImmuCell Corporation announced the results of its operations for the year ended December 31, 2010. Product sales decreased by 3% to $4.4 million in comparison to 2009. The net loss was ($385,000) during the year in comparison to a net loss of ($216,000) during 2009. (company press release)
 
> Animal Health International, Inc. reported its financial results for the Company’s second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2010. Net sales increased 16% to $198 million compared to the same period a year ago. Net income increased 53% to $1.9 million. (company website)
 
> Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. announced results for its fiscal 2011 first-quarter ended January 2, 2011. The Global Pet Supplies Business segment reported net sales of $137 million for the first fiscal quarter, flat with the comparable year-ago period. (Business Wire)
 
> Tyson Foods reported that net income in its fiscal first quarter ended Jan. 1 climbed to $298 million from $160 million a year ago. Sales increased 15% to $7.6 billion. The company attributed its improved performance to stronger prices for its beef and pork. (Meating Place)
 
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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES
 
> Pfizer Poultry Health announced the launch of Inovocox EM1 poultry coccidiosis vaccine. Inovocox EM1 contains Eimeria acervulina and E tenella antigens. However, the new formulation contains only a single strain of E maxima, which means there is a smaller risk of disturbing the absorptive cells of the midgut and a lower incidence of necrotic enteritis. (Animal Pharm) 
 
> Virbac Animal Health announced the launch of Remend Corneal Repair Drops to improve the healing of corneal ulcers in dogs and cats. Remend Corneal Repair Drops are the result of advanced technology that transforms hyaluronan, a natural component of wound healing, into a cross-linked gel. (Animal Pharm)
 
> Hill’s Pet Nutrition announced new partnerships with Webster Veterinary Supply and Butler Schein Animal Health to distribute Hill’s diets to veterinary clinics in selected states. (company press release)
 
> The FDA announced an anticipated shortage of Intervet/Schering-Plough’s Vetsulin (porcine insulin zinc suspension), currently available in the US only through I/SPAH’s Vetsulin Critical Need Program. The expected shortage is the result of recent batches of Vetsulin failing routine manufacturing tests, which showed that the product may have been contaminated with bacteria. FDA has no evidence that Vetsulin currently on the market is affected. (FDA) 
 
> Abbott Animal Health announced the launch of a new line of I.V. sets for veterinary use. The I.V. sets are compatible with most I.V. infusion pumps. (company information)
 
> Wedgewood Pharmacy introduced two new dosage forms for veterinary use: Medi-melts and Quad tabs.  Medi-melts are lightly compressed so they disintegrate rapidly on an animal’s tongue, creating a paste that cannot be rejected; Quad tabs are traditional tablets scored twice for maximum flexibility in dispensing and dosing. (company press release)  
 
> Pork producers NPP LLC and The Maschhoffs LLC announced this week an agreement in which The Maschhoffs will acquire NPP, a deal that will make The Maschhoffs the fourth-largest pork producer in the US by number of sows and the largest family-owned producer. Financial terms were not released. (Feedstuffs)
 
> SCD Probiotics announced it will invest $9.1 million to expand its Kansas City life science and animal health operations, creating an estimated 62 new jobs. (company press release)
 
> UK  Innovacyn announced that its Vetericyn range of animal wound care products is now available in the United Kingdom for use on equines, companion animals and livestock. (Animal Pharm) 
 
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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS
 
> US – BRUCELLOSIS   The Wyoming Livestock Board announced that it had received notice from animal health officials in Montana that a Wyoming cow at a Montana auction had tested positive for brucellosis. State animal health officials currently are investigating the case, and making plans for further testing of the cow, as well as the herd she was from. (Wyoming Business Report)
 
> US – COMPOUNDING   The FDA published letters to equine veterinarians and pharmacists announcing the recent approval of SucroMate Equine (deslorelin acetate), and cautioning that all importing or compounding from bulk drug of deslorelin acetate should cease. (FDA)
 
> US – DISEASE MONITORING   A new online mapping tool will enable scientists and the public to track outbreaks of animal diseases that might jump to humans. The tool, known as Predict, was created with a grant from the US Agency for International Development, and will monitor data from 50,000 Web sites. (New York Times)
 
> US – ONE HEALTH COMMISSION  The One Health Commission announced that it is locating at Iowa State University. The commission was formed in 2009 to establish “closer professional interactions, collaborations, and educational opportunities” for physicians, veterinarians, and other health science-related professionals. (association press release)
 
> US – GE LEGISLATION   Two Senators from Alaska reintroduced a bill that would ban genetically engineered (GE) salmon. The Senators assert that the FDA has not studied the environmental effects, let alone the economic impacts on the salmon and seafood markets that would result from approval of AquaBounty Technologies’ GE salmon, which would be the first genetically engineered food animal to be approved for human consumption. The Senators also introduced a bill that would require labeling of GE fish. (FoodSafetyNews.com)
 
> US – ANIMAL WELFARE   A Missouri House committee has endorsed a proposal to place the right to raise livestock in the state Constitution. The proposal would declare a right to “raise livestock in a humane manner without the state imposing an undue economic burden on animal owners.”  The measure would invalidate any criminal law related to the welfare of livestock unless it was based upon “generally accepted scientific principles” and passed by the Missouri Legislature.  (Fox2now.com)
 
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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
 
It has been an interesting couple of weeks with regards to the weather.  Those needing to travel in the Central and Eastern regions of the US have been faced with challenges; the low temperatures and heavy snowfall will have a negative impact on producers as well.  There will be a double hit from costs of tending to livestock during this period.  Hopefully the toughest part of winter is now behind us.
 
Here in the US my mailbox is filling up with promotional materials related to the upcoming Western Veterinary Conference.  We continue to look for innovative products that will create significant revenue streams for all segments of the industry. 
 
We did note that the FDA published a letter to pharmacists and veterinarians, announcing that a new product had been approved for equine use, advising that all compounding of this product should be discontinued.  We’ll be watching to see what happens, and whether further enforcement actions will be required to end illegal compounding; it appears to be a good first step in protecting the rights of FDA-approved products.
 
Have a good weekend!
 
Ron Brakke
 
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Dallas, TX  75234    USA