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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for February 14, 2025
Copyright © Brakke Consulting
Editor: Lynn Fondon DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:
Brakke Consulting News
Brakke Consulting 2025 Industry Overview at WVC
Earnings News
Musti Group
Nestlé
PetMed Express
Swedencare
Zoetis
Other News
BIOME9
Biovet
BioZyme
Ceva
CitizenShipper
CompletePet
Custom Veterinary Services
Dalan Animal Health
dsm-firmenich
Green Mountain Animal
Meatly
Novonesis
Otto
Pooch & Mutt
Proscia
Save This Life
Torigen Pharmaceuticals
VAFO
VCA
Vetster
ZIVO Bioscience
Zoetis
Zomedica
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Brakke Consulting
Brakke Consulting 2025 Industry Overview
Presented at WVC: Monday, March 3rd , 2-4 pm, Four Seasons Ballroom 4
How did the top animal health companies perform in 2024? What critical issues and new products will impact industry performance in 2025? Answers to these questions and more will be covered at Brakke Consulting’s annual Industry Overview at the VMX and WVC conferences next year. Key topics and presenters include:
- Industry and Top Global Company 2024 Performance, presented by Bob Jones
- Pets and Vets: Companion Animal Practice in Transition, presented by John Volk
- Parasiticides in Pets – Back to the Future, presented by Darrell Klug
- Regenerative Medicine ─ Future Game-Changing Therapies, presented by Mike McGinley
Also, again at both events, you will be able to hear directly from a panel of top leaders in the animal health industry. Moderated by Paul Casady, the topic for the panel will be “Opportunities and Challenges in 2025.” The panelists for WVC are Jesper Nordengaard, CEO, Dechra; and Tammi Lesser, Sr. VP, Sales & Marketing, Antech.
This information-packed 2-hour session will be especially valuable for executive leadership, sales and marketing, strategy, and finance managers and for decision makers in the animal health industry.
Click here to register for WVC
You can also email Amanda McDavid or call at 336-396-3916. Registration cost is $399; there are discounts for multiple attendees from the same company. We look forward to seeing you there!
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EARNINGS NEWS RELEASES
- Zoetis reported its financial results for the full year 2024. The company reported revenue of $9.3 billion, an increase of 8% compared with full year 2023 (+11% excluding the impact of foreign currency). Net income for full year 2024 was $2.5 billion, an increase of 6% on a reported basis. Revenue in the U.S. segment was $1.3 billion, an increase of 4% compared with the fourth quarter of 2023. (seekingalpha.com)
- Nestlé S.A. reported results for the full year 2024. PetCare sales were CHF 18,882 million ($20,816 million), flat compared to the prior year (+3% organic growth). Segment underlying trading operating profit was CHF 4,087 million ($4,506 million), an increase of 4%. (company press release)
- PetMed Express, Inc. announced its financial results for its third quarter ended December 31, 2024. Net sales were $53.0 million, a decline of 19%. Net loss was $(707,000) compared to a net loss of $(2,027) million in the prior-year quarter. (com)
- Swedencare reported financial results for the full year 2024. Net revenue amounted to 2,530 MSEK ($234 million), an increase of 9%. Net income was 98.9 MSEK ($9.1 million), an increase of 68%. Total net sales from the North American segment amounted to 1,918 MSEK ($177 million), an increase of 2%. (company website)
- Musti Group reported results from October to December 2024. Net sales were EUR 122 million ($126 million), an increase of 6% year-on-year. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) declined by 16% YoY to EUR 17.2 million ($17.8 million). (Globalpets)
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KC Animal Health Corridor
Animal Health Summit
Now Accepting 2025 Emerging Company Applications
The KC Animal Health Corridor is now accepting applications from early-stage companies to present at the 20th annual Animal Health Summit, held in Kansas City on August 25-26, 2025.
The 20th annual Summit is one of the only opportunities in the world for early-stage companies in the animal health, nutrition, diagnostic and technology sectors to present their vision, business plan and technology to potential investors.
The selection committee will consider companies that meet the following criteria:
– Seeking $500,000 – $20 million in funding, or strategic partnerships to advance a company’s technology
– Revenue projections of $20 million within 5-7 years
Applications are due by April 1. To apply to present as an emerging company, visit the Animal Health Summit application page .
For more information, contact Kimberly Young at young@thinkkc.com
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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES
- Zoetis announced a new Vetscan Imagyst capability, AI Masses, which uses best-in-class AI to analyze potentially neoplastic cells in lymph node and subcutaneous lesions. (Vet Candy)
- Zomedica announced an update to its endogenous ACTH (eACTH) assay for equine plasma on the TRUFORMA biosensor platform. The enhanced test now provides values for both full-length endogenous ACTH and CLIP (Corticotropin-Like Intermediate Peptide) and calculates a composite value that can be directly compared to results from the traditional chemiluminescent assay used at reference laboratories. (biospace.com)
- VCA Animal Hospitals has permanently closed at least 17 urgent care practices in five states, according to VIN News. Seven remaining urgent care locations are listed on their websites as open. In a company statement, VCA stated that “after a thorough evaluation, we recently made the decision to close some of our Urgent Care hospitals and maintain ones in select communities to continue to build a better experience for our patients, Associates, and clients.” VCA opened its first urgent care center 2 1/2 years ago. (VIN News)
- Novonesis and dsm-firmenich announced that they have reached an agreement to dissolve the 25-year-old Feed Enzyme Alliance and for Novonesis to take over the sales and distribution activities, in exchange for a total cash consideration of EUR 1.5 billion. The dsm-firmenich activities to be sold to Novonesis represented approximately EUR 300 million in total annual net sales in 2024. (Feedstuffs)
- BioZyme introduced VitaFerm Sure Start Gel, specifically formulated to support newborn calves’ immune function and overall health during the critical post-birth period. (Feedstuffs)
- Custom Veterinary Services (CVS) announced the acquisition of Green Mountain Animal, with the combination of the two businesses forming CompletePet, LLC. The new company will be a contract manufacturer of nutritional supplements as well as medicated dermatological pet supplies and grooming products. Financial terms were not disclosed. (Petfood Processing)
- Torigen Pharmaceuticals announced it is now employing Proscia’s Concentriq software to enhance its Specialty Pathology Service. Torigen pathologists leverage Concentriq to analyze data-rich images, offering comprehensive profiles of diseases that inform both treatment strategies and the development of personalized vaccines. (com)
- ZIVO Bioscience, Inc., a biotech/agtech R&D company dedicated to developing therapeutic, medicinal and nutritional product candidates derived from proprietary algal cultures, announces plans for a second collaborative study with the University of Delaware. This new study aims to further explore the potential applications of ZIVO’s proprietary active ingredients in mitigating the spread of Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (LPAI) virus among poultry. (businesswire)
- Dalan Animal Health announced it is using its innate immunity platform – used to develop the world’s first honeybee vaccine – to develop a new vaccine that will offer a sustainable, non-chemical alternative to combat diseases in shrimp such as White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) and Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS). (com)
- Otto announced the launch of its AI Suite of tools that can be enabled or disabled by the clinic; available at no additional cost to users in the U.S. and Canada. The Otto AI Suite comprises three core tools: Otto AI Recap automatically records and summarizes appointment notes; Otto AI Memo captures, transcribes, and summarizes phone calls made through Otto; and Otto AI Suggest offers suggested client follow-up responses within the Flow platform. (com)
- Texas-based pet microchip service Save This Life closed abruptly this week. The company was also removed from AAHA’s Microchip Registry Lookup tool, which maintains a connection to more than three dozen pet microchip providers. (org)
- CitizenShipper, a pet transportation leader, announced a partnership with Vetster telehealth and pet care marketplace, integrating safe pet transportation with accessible, comprehensive veterinary support. (com)
- FRANCE Ceva Animal Health announced the opening of Biogenovac, its brand-new genomics research laboratory, in Beaucouzé, France. The laboratory reinforces Ceva’s commitment to preventing future health crises by anticipating variations in viral strains and combating emerging animal diseases. (com)
- INDIA Bharat Biotech group company Biovet announced that its lumpy skin disease vaccine for dairy cattle and buffaloes, Biolumpivaxin, has received a license from India’s Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO). The soon-to-be-launched Biolumpivaxin is the world’s only marker vaccine for lumpy skin disease. (com)
- UK Meatly announced the launch of its Chick Bites cultivated meat pet treat at Pets at Home. According to the company it is the world’s first cultivated meat pet product. (Globalpets)
- UK VAFO’s Pooch & Mutt announced it has acquired BIOME9, specializing in gut health analysis and science-backed dog supplement plans. This at-home kit allows dog owners to gain insights into their dog’s gut microbiome. Financial terms were not disclosed. (Globalpets)
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ANIMAL HEALTH STOCK PRICE TRACKER
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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS
- US – AVIAN INFLUENZA At least four cattle herds in Nevada have tested positive for a strain of H5N1 avian influenza never before seen in cows, and respiratory symptoms like coughing and sneezing have been reported. The new strain, called D1.1 by scientists, was also linked to a fatal human case in Louisiana last year after exposure to sick birds. The D1.1 strain has emerged in recent months to dominate infections in wild birds and poultry flocks across North America. Previously, all cases of bird flu in cows since a spillover in Texas in late 2023 had previously been linked only to the B3.13 strain. (com)
- UK – AVIAN INFLUENZA Defra has banned all gatherings of poultry across the whole of England to stem the spread of avian influenza, against the backdrop of 28 recorded cases in kept poultry so far this season. The ban, which will roll out February 10, will include any bird fairs, markets, shows, sales, exhibitions. (com)
- WORLD – DRUG RESIDUES The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), announced a new toolbox designed to help those assessing the risks of veterinary drug residues in food. The JECFA Toolbox for Veterinary Drug Residues Risk Assessment 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 launch of the JECFA Toolbox takes place on February 27, 2025. (com)
- US – VETERINARY PARAPROFESSIONALS Colorado State University’s governing board has approved an academic curriculum for a new master’s program designed to train veterinary professional associates (VPAs). The VPA role is intended to provide medical services at a level between that of veterinary technicians and licensed veterinarians, under veterinary supervision. CSU plans to enroll 20 to 30 students in the Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care program starting in Fall 2025, with the first class expected to graduate in Fall 2027. The curriculum, designed by CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, includes both online and in-person instruction, culminating in a practicum focused on clinical procedures and reasoning. Students entering the program must have a bachelor’s degree and specific coursework in math and science. (Vet Candy)
- US – GENOMICS RESEARCH The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has approved the establishment of the Center for Comparative Genomics in animal genetics. The center will contribute to genomic advances in human and animal health and agriculture. (Feedstuffs)
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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
The Smartphone Revolution: How “Buy Now” Changed Shopping Forever
Buying pet products used to require planning—lists, trips to multiple stores, and weekend shopping runs. Before 2010, a gap existed between deciding to buy and actually making the purchase. The effort often led to forgotten orders, second-guessing, or abandoning the purchase altogether.
Then came smartphones, and everything changed.
By 2010, shopping on mobile was clunky, but by 2012, smartphone adoption surpassed 50% of U.S. adults, pushing retailers to optimize mobile shopping. Pet owners no longer had to wait to order—if they saw a product at a friend’s house, got a vet’s recommendation, or ran out of food, they could buy it instantly.
Between 2013-2015, mobile shopping exploded. Chewy, Amazon, and pet retailers refined their apps, making it effortless to compare prices, check reviews, and tap “Buy Now.” Apple Pay and one-click checkout made shopping seamless. Instant gratification became the norm.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend. With lockdowns restricting access to vet clinics and pet stores, owners turned to mobile shopping for essentials. Companies like Chewy and Amazon thrived, while brick-and-mortar retailers scrambled to keep up. Even after restrictions lifted, the convenience of mobile shopping remained a habit.
Today, if a product isn’t available for purchase the moment a pet owner decides, another brand or retailer will win the sale. Consumers expect frictionless shopping and fast delivery. Businesses must adapt to this shift, and the 2024 Brakke Home Delivery Study offers crucial insights into pet owners’ evolving habits.
Smartphones didn’t just change how we shop—they raised expectations permanently. In a world where instant access drives action, being available now isn’t just an advantage—it’s essential.
Richard Hayworth
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YOUR VIEW
Last week, we asked about your companies’ positions on employer branding. Nearly half of you (48%) said your company actively implements employer branding strategies and tactics. 19% said you’re just getting started, 13% are aware but struggling to initiate the activities, and 21% were not familiar with employer branding.
This week
In recent years, Valentine’s Day spending on pets in the U.S. has seen significant growth. In 2022, pet owners spent approximately $1.189 billion on gifts for their animals, and in 2024, this figure increased to about $2.14 billion, according to Capital One Shopping Research.
How much do you plan to spend on your furry friend(s) this Valentine’s Day?
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