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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for February 18, 2011
Copyright © Brakke Consulting, Inc.
Editor: Lynn Fondon, DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:
Brakke news
practice management consultant
2011 Industry Overview
earnings news
Bioniche
Nestle
Pilgrim’s Pride
Ridley
VCA Antech
other news
Abaxis
Agrilabs
Butler Schein Animal Health
ImproMed
Intervet/Schering-Plough
McAllister Software Systems
Norbrook Labs
Novartis (ISP)
Novartis (restructuring)
Nutreco
PetSafe
Shihai
Thorne Research
Webster
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BRAKKE CONSULTING ANNOUNCES NEW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Brakke Consulting is pleased to announce the addition of Jessica Goodman Lee, CVPM to its team of consultants. Jessica will take over leadership of the Practice Management portion of the company’s activities.
Jessica has contributed to the success of several individual veterinary practices, most recently at Angel Veterinary Center of Flower Mound, Texas. She has particular expertise in veterinary clinic human resources management, marketing a practice’s services to pet owners, and using current information technologies to build a profitable practice.
Jessica can be reached at jglee@brakkeconsulting.com or by phone at 919-444-3279.
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COMPANY EARNINGS RELEASES
> Nestle SA reported results for 2010. PetCare sales were CHF 13.1 billion ($13.9 billion), representing organic growth of 5%. (company press release)
> Ridley Inc. reported its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 ended December 31, 2010. Revenue of $159.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 was $9.3 million higher than the same period last year. (company website)
> Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. announced financial results for the second quarter of its 2011 fiscal year (ended December 31, 2010). Consolidated revenues related to Bioniche Animal Health product sales for the second quarter were $6.1 million, as compared to $7.0 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2010. (company website)
> VCA Antech, Inc. reported financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010. Revenue increased 5% to $1.38 billion; net income for the year was $114 million, down 16% compared to the prior year. Animal Hospital revenue increased 6% for the year, while Laboratory revenue was flat. (company press release)
> Pilgrim’s Pride reported net earnings rose to $41.8 million in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 26, up from $33.6 million a year ago. Net sales rose to $1.8 billion in the quarter from $1.6 billion a year ago. (Meating Place)
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BRAKKE CONSULTING’S 2011 INDUSTRY OVERVIEW AT WVC
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
Online registration is now closed. To register, please call 972-243-4033 or register on-site. Payment by major credit card is required at time of registration.
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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES
> Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health announced it has granted Novartis Animal Health exclusive rights to part of its patent portfolio for pancreas disease (PD) vaccines for salmon. The agreement paves the way for Novartis Animal Health to commercialize a new pancreas disease vaccine based on innovative vaccine technology. Intervet/Schering-Plough introduced its current vaccine for pancreas disease, Norvax Compact PD, in 2008. (company press release)
> Novartis announced that its OTC and Animal Health businesses will become separate Novartis divisions. George Gunn will continue to manage the CIBA Vision business until the close of the Alcon transaction, and will remain a member of the Executive Committee in his new role as Head of Animal Health. (TradingMarkets.com)
> AgriLabs announced the launch of Achieve with Cryptex, an all-natural formula developed to bolster the ability of newborns to withstand disease stressors like scours. (company press release)
> The FDA announced the approval of Norbrook Laboratories’ Hexasol Injection (oxytetracycline and flunixin meglumine) for treating bacterial pneumonia in beef and non-lactating dairy cattle. (FDA)
> Abaxis, Inc. announced a $2.8 million equity investment in Scandinavian Micro Biodevices APS, (“SMB”), the original equipment manufacturer of the Abaxis VetScan VSpro point-of-care specialty analyzer since 2008. Abaxis has had exclusive distribution rights for the analyzer and associated cartridges in North America since 2008; beginning in 2011 Abaxis will have non-exclusive rights in other areas of the world. (PRNewswire)
> Butler Schein Animal Health announced that it has acquired majority ownership positions in McAllister Software Systems, LLC (MSS), creator of the AVImark practice management system; and ImproMed, Inc. (ImproMed), creator of the Infinity practice management software product. MSS and ImproMed will operate as subsidiaries of Butler Schein Animal Health. For 2010, MSS and ImproMed had combined sales of approximately $25 million. Financial terms were not disclosed. (PRNewswire)
> Webster Veterinary announced a new online service for veterinarians called ePetHealth, a communications platform that provides practitioners with a secure Internet portal for their clients to access pet medical information plus descriptive, easy-to-understand resources and educational materials with 3D graphics. (company press release)
> PetSafe announced it now offers comprehensive medical insurance for pets. Designed to meet most budgets, PetSafe offers three coverage options: 70%, 80% or 90% reimbursement after the deductible. According to the company, PetSafe covers all hereditary conditions. (Vet Advantage)
> Nutreco announced that it has agreed to acquire 100% of the shares in Shihai Co. Ltd., a fish and shrimp feed company in China, for approximately EUR 40 million ($54 million). Shihai had 2010 revenue of about EUR 65 million ($88 million). The acquisition will provide Skretting, Nutreco’s aquaculture feed business, with a production base in China, the world’s leading aquaculture feed market. (Feedstuffs)
> Thorne Research announced the introduction of Thorne Vet, a comprehensive new product line of animal health products for the companion pet and equine markets. The Thorne Vet line of more than 40 animal health products is available exclusively through veterinarians. (company announcement)
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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS
> NORTH KOREA North Korea has confirmed reports that animals infected with foot-and-mouth disease were discovered in several provinces in the country. The areas are currently quarantined and disinfected. The World Organization for Animal Health reported that over 11,000 infected animals have died in the outbreak to date. (Meating Place)
> US – H1N1 INFLUENZA A 6-year-old male domestic shorthair cat in Wisconsin has tested positive for the H1N1 influenza virus, the first confirmed case of H1N1 in a US pet since January 2010. The owner of the cat had been ill with flu-like symptoms prior to the cat’s illness and is believed to be the source of the infection, according to the AVMA. (VetPracticeNews)
> JAPAN – AVIAN INFLUENZA Japan has confirmed a case of avian influenza among more than 160 chickens recently found dead at a poultry farm in Kiho, Mie Prefecture. Tests showed that the virus found in some of the dead birds was the highly pathogenic H5 type. (JapanToday.com)
> US – PET ID Developer Dirk Van Vorris is manufacturing digital pet identification tags that can be scanned by any smartphone, according to Scripps Media. Once scanned, any information the pet’s owner puts on the tag (up to 3,500 characters) appears on the screen of the smartphone. (Vet Advantage)
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One Health Biomanufacturing Summit
March 3, 2011
Overland Park, KS
The day-long One Health Biomanufacturing Summit brings together the region’s thought leaders to uncover best-in-class strategies and practices needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment.
Key issues to be addressed include:
– Regulatory Issues and Best Management Practices
– Supply Chain and Manufacturing Excellence
– Enabling Efficient Facilities with Technologies and Process Improvements
– Applying the One Health Approach
For more information, contact Angela Kreps, President & CEO, KansasBio: 913.495.4334 ∙ akreps@kansasbio.org
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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
Much of the news this week is international in scope. Three of the earnings reports are for international companies. Another item reports on a Dutch company purchasing a Chinese company, plus an equity investment in an international business by a US company. In the animal news section two of the disease outbreaks are in international markets. One of the pieces that pleased us the most was an international company receiving approval from the FDA for one of their products here in the US. The value of approvals from the FDA seem be priceless since there are so few of them being announced. It appears that 2011 is off to a good start and the industry is anything but dull right now!!
Earlier in the newsletter we announced that Brakke Consulting is expanding our Practice Management area with the addition of consultant Jessica Lee. We continue to believe that our clients benefit from BCI’s direct contact and interaction with practicing veterinarians. The insights and information that we’re able to gain from these clinic relationships are often translated into meaningful changes and improvements for our clients.
We’ll see many of you in Las Vegas in the next few days!! Be sure to have fresh debit and credit cards available for the gaming tables!!
Ron Brakke
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Brakke Consulting, Inc.
2735 Villa Creek, Suite 140
Dallas, TX 75234 USA
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