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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for July 15, 2011
Copyright © Brakke Consulting, Inc.
Editor: Lynn Fondon, DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:
Brakke news
Brakke Consulting at AVMA
other news
Beijing Ceva Huadu Biological
Bimeda
BrightHeart
CAG Huadu Group
Ceva
IAMS
Innovotech
Medical Australia Ltd
Medivet
Merial
North American Compendiums
Shijiazhuang Rainbow Laboratories
Spectrum Labs
VCA (BrightHeart)
VCA (Vetstreet)
Veterinary Advantage
Vetstreet
VetTree
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BRAKKE CONSULTING, INC.
Brakke Consulting at AVMA
Impact of CareCredit Payment Plans on Veterinary Practices
John Volk, Senior Consultant, Brakke Consulting
Sunday, July 17, 7:00-7:45 AM
Renaissance Grand Hotel, Majestic Salons F & G
Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study, Phase 2
Dr. Cristiano von Simson, Bayer Animal Health, John Volk, Brakke Consulting and Dr. Karen Felsted, NCVEI
Mon, July 18, 2011, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
America’s Center – Room 276
www.BrakkeConsulting.com
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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES
> Merial introduced Zactran (gamithromycin), a prescription, ready-to-use solution for the treatment of BRD associated with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Histophilus somni in beef and non-lactating dairy cattle. (company press release)
> IAMS announced the addition of two new dog food recipes, Sensitive Naturals and Simple & Natural. These two new products join IAMS Healthy Naturals, launched in 2007. (Business Wire)
> VCA Antech, Inc. announced the signing of a definitive purchase agreement with BrightHeart Veterinary Centers. Under the agreement, VCA Antech, Inc. will acquire BrightHeart for approximately $50 million in cash. BrightHeart operates 9 animal hospitals with annual revenues of approximately $53 million, 8 of which focus on the delivery of specialty and emergency medicine. (company press release)
> VCA Antech, Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire MediMedia Animal Health, LLC (“Vetstreet”). Under the agreement, VCA Antech, Inc. will acquire Vetstreet for $146 million in cash. Closing is expected in early September 2011. (company press release)
> Innovotech Inc. announced that Spectrum Labs Inc. has been granted exclusive worldwide rights to market Innovotech’s InnovoSCEPT veterinary biofilm tests as part of its testing service. (company press release)
> VetTree announced its launch of VetTree.com website, offering home delivery of custom label products for veterinarians through a partnership with Stratford Pharmaceuticals. Through its proprietary PetWeb module, VetTree.com allows pet owners to personalize their veterinarian’s custom label products with their pet’s photo. (company press release)
> North American Compendiums announced that it has secured the international distribution rights in the veterinary market for the Vablet content management system for the iPad, iPhone and Android. (company press release)
> Veterinary Advantage Magazine announced it will launch its new Veterinary Advantage Magazine – Livestock Edition this September. The new magazine will be published every trimester reflecting animal production cycles. (company press release)
> CHINA Ceva announced a joint venture agreement was signed with CAG Huadu Group to create Beijing Ceva Huadu Biological Co. Ltd. CAG Huadu Group is a subsidiary of Beijing Capital Agribusiness Group (CAG) with business activities focused in food, poultry production operations and biopharmaceutical industries; the group has a leading position in China’s day old chick, broiler breeder, layer, and poultry vaccine markets. The joint venture will produce and market advanced veterinary vaccine products. (company press release)
> CHINA Bimeda announced it has established a 50-50 joint venture firm with Shijiazhuang Rainbow Laboratories in China to develop and manufacture veterinary and animal health products for the local and regional market. (IrishTimes.com)
> UK Medivet has signed an exclusive Master Distribution Agreement with Medical Australia Limited which will see Medivet enter the market in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The agreement will make Medivet’s Adipose Stem Cell Therapy available to over 10,000 veterinary practices in the United Kingdom. (DigitalJournal.com)
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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS
> SCOTLAND – BVD Scotland plans to introduce annual mandatory screenings among its cattle herds for the bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) disease. Farmers with breeding cattle herds will be required to screen their herd each year for BVD beginning December 1, 2011. (Animal Pharm)
> US – ANAPLASMOSIS Scientists at the USDA’s Animal Research Service (ARS) are researching a vaccine that they hope will potentially protect cattle against the tick-transmitted disease Anaplasmosis. Currently there is no universally accepted vaccine for Anaplasmosis. ARS scientists have only tested the vaccine against one strain of Anaplasma, whereas many strains coexist in the field. Their next step is to determine whether this particular group of proteins will protect cattle from various strains of Anaplasma. (Animal Pharm)
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2011 ANIMAL HEALTH INVESTMENT FORUM
AUGUST 30, 2011
KANSAS CITY
The 2011 Animal Health Investment Forum will feature presentations from over 20 early stage animal health companies from around the world.
This forum is being presented by The KC Animal Health Corridor and will take place on August 30, 2010, in Kansas City, Missouri. It offers the only opportunity in the world for companies exclusively in the animal health sector to present their vision and business plan to potential investors and industry stakeholders. This annual forum also provides an unprecedented opportunity for venture capital, investment firms and animal health companies to hear from emerging companies with the newest technology.
Registration for the event is $500 for presenting companies and $350 for other attendees. To register, go to http://www.kcanimalhealthforum.com/attend.php .
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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
The news this week covers some interesting acquisitions by VCA. It appears that acquisitions, licensing and distribution agreements were most of the big news for the week. It’s interesting to note that not all acquisitions involve product companies. Sometimes they can involve service and publishing businesses. With the announcement a few days ago that Pfizer was considering alternatives for its animal health business, the rumor mill is full orbit. What is apparent is that consolidation in the industry is going to continue at a rapid pace at all levels. Interesting times!!
If you’re attending the AVMA convention in St. Louis this week, you won’t want to miss the presentation Monday evening on a new phase of the Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study. The presentation covers findings of a new national survey of veterinarians and identifies the most productive things veterinarians can do to bring more pets into their practices. The presentation also highlights the key drivers of visits to veterinarians. The study, a collaboration of Bayer, Brakke Consulting and NCVEI, was sponsored by Bayer Animal Health.
Have a good and cool weekend!! We hope to see many of you in St. Louis at the AVMA meeting.
Ron Brakke
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