Animal Health News & Notes for April 4, 2025

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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for April 4, 2025
Copyright © Brakke Consulting
Editor: Lynn Fondon DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:
Brakke Consulting News
Animal Health Jobs

Earnings News
Boehringer Ingelheim
Grupo Petz
Inspire Veterinary Partners

Other News
3 Boomerang Capital
Axiota Animal Health
Bio-Response Solutions
Ceva
Fear Free
Hill’s
Lotte Wellfood
Nestlé
Patient Square Capital
Patterson
Petszel
PetVivo Holdings
PKB Animal Health
Serenity Vet
Sylvester.ai
Thrive Pet Healthcare
Vetoquinol

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Animal Health Jobs
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EARNINGS NEWS RELEASES

• Boehringer Ingelheim reported results for the full year 2024. Animal Health sales rose 1.9% (currency-adjusted) to EUR 4.7 billion ($5,2 billion). (company press release)
• Grupo Petz reported results for the full year 2024. Total Gross Revenue was R$3,988 million ($693 million), a 5% year-over-year increase. Adjusted net income was R$62.8 million ($10.9 million), a decline of 13%.  (company website)
• Inspire Veterinary Partners, Inc. reported financial results for the full year 2024. Total revenue was approximately $16.6 million, flat year-over-year. Net loss was $(14) million, a decrease of 4%. (businessinsider.com)

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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES

• Ceva Santé Animale announced it has restructured its capital. All investors, whether “Friends of Ceva” or pure investors led by Temasek, have renewed their investment, demonstrating a confidence in the company. Ceva’s management has reinforced its participation and retains the majority of voting rights. (investorsinhealthcare)
• Vetoquinol Rehabilitation Business Solution (VeRBS) announced the expansion of its in-person program to offer on-demand virtual RACE-approved courses taught by leading veterinary rehabilitation experts. (company press release)
• Patterson Companies, Inc. announced that its shareholders approved at a special meeting the acquisition of Patterson by Patient Square Capital, a dedicated health care investment firm. Patterson shareholders will receive $31.35 in cash per share of common stock. The transaction is expected to close later this month. (company press release)
• Hill’s Pet Nutrition announced the release of its inaugural “2025 World of the Cat Report.” The 28-page report addresses, among other things, cat demographics worldwide, pet food advances, and the impact of costs on veterinary care, along with new diagnostics and treatments. Hill’s plans to update its inaugural report annually. (org)
• PKB Animal Health, a division of Pet King Brands, announced an expanded veterinary line to include specialty pet products. The new specialty products are Avian Care, ZYLAFEN, Small Animal & Exotic products, and Cats & Kittens and Ear Wipes. (company press release)
• PetVivo Holdings, Inc. announced that the Company has recently entered into a Subscription Agreement to receive $5 million of equity financing in exchange for Five Million shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. (globenewswire)
• Axiota Animal Health announced that its Multimin 90 (zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium injection) for cattle has received FDA approval, completing Multimin 90’s transition to an FDA-approved product and labeling. (Feedstuffs)
• Thrive Pet Healthcare announced the successful completion of a new financing transaction that will provide $350+ million of enhanced liquidity and extend the maturities of all of its debt instruments. This transaction was supported by 100% of Thrive’s existing lenders and its equity sponsor, TSG Consumer Partners. (prnewswire)
• Fear Free announced a strategic alliance with ai to introduce Sylvester.ai’s platform into Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practices. Sylvester.ai’s technology uses artificial intelligence to assess subtle cues from a cat’s facial expressions and body language in a single photo to help detect early signs of discomfort or changes in health status. (company press release)
• Petszel announced the upcoming launch of a new Teleadvice service for pet parents during the critical first 30 days post-adoption. The platform will provide complimentary access during this time to veterinary professionals via chat or video calls. Services will include general advice on pet health and basic care; triage support aligned with shelter/rescue preferences; and optional continuation of service after the free 30-day window. (prnewswire)
• Veterinary relief platform Serenity Vet introduced a new option to reward relief veterinarians: production bonuses. With this new feature, clinics can offer a flat rate with the opportunity to earn more from busy shifts. (company press release)
• Private equity firm 3 Boomerang Capital announced its investment in Bio-Response Solutions, a maker of sterilization and tissue digestion equipment for veterinary clinics, funeral homes, crematoriums and bio-containment laboratories. (Vet Advantage)
• KOREA Nestlé announced it is moving to establish its own pet care business in South Korea, ending its joint venture with Lotte Wellfood. (GlobalPets)

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ANIMAL HEALTH STOCK PRICE TRACKER

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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS

• WORLD – DRUG RESIDUES The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) officially launched the JECFA Toolbox for Veterinary Drug Residues Risk Assessment. The tool describes the process used by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) when assessing the risks of veterinary drug residues in animal-derived food products consumed by humans. The key output of the JECFA risk assessment process is the derivation of maximum residue limits (MRLs), which protect human health and facilitate fair trade. (organization press release)
• US – VETERINARY DRUG REGULATION Professional groups and former FDA staff say that 140 FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine leaders and administrative staff are among the HHS employees who were fired in the latest round of cuts. Two senior veterinarians who were fired had been leading the CVM’s avian influenza response, while others were working on antimicrobial resistance and animal feed safety. (AVMA Smartbrief)
• US – VETERINARY WORKFORCE The bipartisan Rural Veterinary Workforce Act – legislation to help address the shortages in essential veterinary services facing rural communities – has been introduced in the US House of Representatives, and companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate. The Act would fix a tax policy that limits the impact of the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. (National Hog Farmer)
• US – VETERINARY EDUCATION Utah State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine received assurance of its provisional accreditation with the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA COE), a pivotal step to making USU home to the state’s first four-year veterinary degree program. The college is opening applications for enrollment to prospective members of the inaugural class; accepted students – the Class of 2029 – will begin their studies this fall semester. (edu)

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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
Coloradoans recently voted in favor of a Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) position, with responsibility and authorization between a licensed technician and a veterinarian.

I attended one of the liveliest panel discussions on this very topic during a recent conference. Both pro and con voices were passionate and well-informed. The bill’s origin centers around a perceived (short-term?) imbalance between veterinary care demand and supply. By creating a hybrid position, the bill’s supporters seek to supplement veterinary care without requiring the time and expense of earning a veterinary degree. That said, the VPA can make medical recommendations only under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

The issue runs much deeper than that. Questions abound related to surgical procedures, unforeseen circumstances within patient care, the establishment of a VCPR, pay rates, and more. Virtually all accreditation and regulation fall under a state licensing board. VPAs would be no different, which raises issues of interstate reciprocity.

What’s certain is livelier debate. A recent study conducted by Brakke Consulting on behalf of AVMA demonstrated that rather than a true shortage of veterinarians, the industry’s recent tight labor market now easing, the equilibrium comprising a basic tenet of economics.

Jeff Santosuosso 

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YOUR VIEW
Last week we asked what percentage of pet owners would be willing to spend at least $10,000 to treat their pet’s cancer. More than half indicated less than 10% of pet owners: 22% said less than 5%, and 37% said 6-10%. 11% said 11-15%, 22% said 16-20%, and 8% said 21-25%.

The answer, according to our survey of 1,000 pet owners, was 11%.

This week
This week’s question: How do you feel about Colorado’s attempt to create a VPA position?