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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for February 27, 2026
Copyright © Brakke Consulting
Editor: Christine Merle DVM, MBA, CVPM
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IN THE NEWS:
Brakke Consulting News
Brakke Search is Hiring
Earning News
Elanco
Freshpet
J. M. Smucker Co.
Company News
Apiam Animal Health (AU)
Assut Europe
ASTRA Therapeutics
Bioxytran
CLIRNET (IN)
Dechra
ECO Animal Health (EU)
ExeGi Pharma
Elanco (AU)
Franklin Biotech (South America)
ilender (South America)
Merck Animal Health
Moichor
Vetnique Labs
Zomedica
Animal Health News
United Kingdom
United States
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Company Earnings Releases
- Elanco announced its full year 2025 results with a revenue increase of 7% in organic constant currency to $4,715M and the delivery of all Big 6 blockbuster potential products by the end of 2025. For 2026 revenue growth is expected to be 4-6%. (company press release)
- Freshpet released its full year 2025 results highlighting net sales growth of 13% surpassing $1B in net sales for the first time. (company press release)
- M. Smuckerreported its third quarter 2026 results with Net Sales increasing 7% over the prior year to $2.3B. Its US Retail Pet Segment Net Sales decreased by 1% however segment profit increased by 4% due to lower marketing spending. (company press release)
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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES
- The FDA approved Numelvi (atinvicitinib tablets) from Merck Animal Healthfor the control of pruritic associated with allergic dermatitis. (company press release)
- The Veterinary Oral Health Council Seal of Acceptance has been issued to Dechra’s VETRADENT Dental Wipes for dogs. (yahoo.com)
- Fabian Kausche, was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors forASTRA Therapeutics. (globenewswire.com)
- Assut Europehas launched its GexFix Veterinary Sutures in the US. (company press release)
- Vetnique Labs, a pet health solutions company, has announced Noel Geoffroy as the new global CEO. (net)
- Visbiome Vet (De Simone Formulation) from ExeGi Pharma was highlighted in the recent ACVIM consensus statement as a recommended option to consider following diet trials in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE). It was specifically noted for its potential role in the diagnosis and management of CIE. (com)
- Zomedica’s TRUVIEW Digital Microscopy Platform announced a commercial distrubtion agreement with Moichor,a veterinary reference laboratory service leader. (company press release)
- Bioxytran’s drug candidate PHM23, is being evaluated as a potential therapeutic for poultry infected by bird flu in a collaboration with University of Georgia as part of a USDA $100M grant (com)
- AU- Elanco received approval from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority for its Advocate Ultra Chew, known as Credelio Quattro in the US. (com)
- AU- Apiam Animal Healthis now a wholly owned subsidiary of BidCo, a privately owned company and will be delisted from the Australian exchange. (com)
- EU- ECO Animal Healthannounced the EU launch plans for ECOVAXXIN with a phased launch plan to start in Spain at the end of June 2026 and in subsequent regional events from Q3 2026 through Q1 2027. (company press release)
- IN-CLIRNET has launched VetNet, a dedicated Continuing Veterinary Education platform in India. (com)
- South America- Franklin Biotechwill bring their feed additive solutions for poultry, swine and aquaculture to South America due to a partnership with ilender. (com)
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ANIMAL HEALTH STOCK PRICE TRACKER
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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS
- US-CAT CANCER- A recent Sciencepublication has provided the oncogenome of the domestic paving a path to use cats as valuable models for comparative studies for some cancers. (com)
- US- CATALYST COUNCIL REPORT- A new reportshows cats are now nearly 1 in 4 clinical visits to veterinary practices bringing in an estimated $12.7B in 2025 practice revenue. (com)
- UK- CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY- After significant concerns were voiced, Cambridge University has announced that its veterinary school will remain open and offers to new students will be made. (com)
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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
When does “how much” become “too much”, when it comes to spending money on your pets? Said another way- what dollar amount might make you pause when it came to veterinary care of your pet?
In a recent post from the Pet Business Professor, he shared a graph on Petflation through January 2026, using 2019 prices as the base, the US CPI sits at 26.6%, Total Pet at 29.1% and Veterinary Services as the highest at 49.6%. GULP… that’s almost twice of CPI but the visual is what is really striking. While most categories made steady regular treks upward the steep and continuing climb in veterinary is shocking.
You’ve all seen the data- veterinary visits are down, practices are feeling it. For many pet owners the cost of care is a real challenge with a recent study of US Pet owners stating 7 in 10 owners skipped veterinary care this past year due to cost.
Financial conversations for anyone are never easy but recent studies show that disclosing personal financial information can alleviate anxiety. Working as a veterinarian, I’m faced with financial discussions with clients regularly- I’ve never shied away from the conversation- but I have found myself taking a deep breath a bit more often lately because I’m brushing up on what would be my own personal “too much” more than ever before. I’m not sure where the answers and solutions will come from but I’m confident that this industry will be able to meet this challenge too.
Dr. Christine Merle
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YOUR VIEW
Last week we asked your thoughts on the merger of MWI Animal Health and Covetrus. We received several responses with many wondering if the merger would pass FTC scrutiny and if the impact might be more harmful to the veterinary industry due to job losses, reduced competition and potentially higher prices. Several noted the cultural mismatch between the two companies being a potential challenge- overall sentiment leaned towards skepticism and concern. Only time will tell what impact will result.
This week we want to know what dollar amount might give you pause for veterinary care for your pet.
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