Animal Health News & Notes for February 17, 2023

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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for February 17, 2023
Copyright © Brakke Consulting
Editor: Lynn Fondon DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:
Brakke Consulting news
2023 Industry Overview – last chance to register
Animal Health Jobs

Earnings News
Nestlé
PetVivo
Spectrum Brands
Swedencare
Trupanion
Zoetis

Other News
AB Vista
Arm & Hammer
Bioved Pharmaceuticals
Canadian Tire
The Craftory
DierenDokters
DLF Venture
Edgard & Cooper
GlobalVetLink
Hankkija
L Catterton
Lider Pet Food
Montana Dog Food
Nestlé Purina PetCare
Partner Pet
Petco
PetMed Express
Pumpkin Insurance Services
Red Collar Pet Food
Royal Canin
Tetracore
United Petfood
The Veterinary Cooperative
VetPartners
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
Zoetis

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BRAKKE CONSULTING
Announcing the 2023 Brakke Industry Overview
Last chance to register!  

Presented at WVC: Monday, February 20^th, 2-4 pm, Four Seasons Hotel, Acacia 1

Come join us at Brakke Consulting’s annual Industry Overview presented at VMX and WVC next year.  Key topics and presenters include:

• Industry and top global company performance, presented by Bob Jones
• Continuing consolidation of and labor shortages in vet practices, including their response to inflation, presented by John Volk
• A closer look at pet pharmacy consumerization and how we can all thrive in this new era, presented by Candise Goodwin
• Trends, challenges, and opportunities facing animal health companies in finding talent in today’s business environment, presented by Jeff Santosuosso

Also, moderated by Paul Casady, a panel of industry leaders will discuss their views on the subject of “Managing Animal Health Companies in Times of Uncertainty”.  Panelists for WVC include:

• George Fennell, Senior VP and General Manager, Companion Animal Group Customer Facing Organization, IDEXX Laboratories
• Nicki Baty, President and General Manager, Hill’s Pet Nutrition US

To learn more about and sign up for the Industry Overview, click here.  You can also email Amanda McDavid or call us at 336-396-3916.

www.BrakkeConsulting.com 

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EARNINGS NEWS RELEASES

• Zoetis reported financial results for the full year 2022. Revenue was $8.08 billion, an increase of 4% compared with full year 2021 (+8%, on an operational basis excluding the impact of foreign currency). Net income was $2.1 billion, an increase of 4% on a reported basis. US revenue was $1.11 billion, an increase of 7%. (company press release)
• Nestlé reported full-year results for 2022. PetCare sales were CHF 18.1 billion ($19.6 billion), a year-over-year increase of 16% (organic growth of 14%). Segment underlying trading operating profit was CHF 3.7 billion ($4.0 billion), an increase of 13%. (company website)
• Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. reported results from continuing operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2023 ended January 1, 2023. Global Pet Care net sales were $278 million, a decline of 8% (organic net sales decreased 3.6%). Segment operating income was $22.7 million, a decline of 4%. (Businesswire)
• Swedencare reported results for the full year 2022. Net revenue was SEK 1,830 million ($175 million), a year-over-year increase of 137%. The growth was divided into 2% organic growth, 122% acquired growth and 13% currency impact. Net income was SEK 94.5 million ($9.1 million), an increase of 73%. (company website)
• Trupanion, Inc. announced financial results for the full year 2022. Total revenue was $905 million, an increase of 29% compared to 2021. Total enrolled pets was 1,537,573 at December 31, 2022, an increase of 31% over 2021. Net loss was $(44.7) million, compared to net loss of $(35.5) million in 2021. (company press release)
• PetVivo Holdings, Inc. announced financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 ended December 31, 2022. Revenues were $510,109, compared to revenues of $51,004 in the prior-year quarter. Net loss was $(2,311,618) compared to a net loss of $(1,642,129) for the prior-year period. (globenewswire)

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AnimalHealthJobs

With today’s tight competition for top animal health talent, you need every advantage to attract the best people. There’s a reason Animal Health Jobs is the premier job board for the animal health and animal nutrition industry. With our tiered packages, you choose the level of service that’s right for your company. We accept roles across animal health, in marketing, business development, communications, technical services, sales, R&D and more. Whether you need a cat, dog, horse, pig, cow or poultry person, you’ll find the best ones here.

If you need top talent, there’s no time to wait. Register your company or call us at 1-252-203-0033. Want to learn more about Animal Health Jobs? We will be at WVC: email Amanda McDavid at amcdavid@brakkeconsulting.com or call to schedule a time to meet.

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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES

• Zoetis announced the US launch of the AlphaTrak 3 blood glucose monitoring system for cats and dogs suffering from diabetes. This model builds on original AlphaTrak and includes a new mobile app enabling seamless, simplified communication and sharing of a pet’s glucose data and additional information with the veterinary practice in real-time. (DVM360)
• Nestlé Purina PetCare announced it is acquiring Red Collar Pet Food’s pet treat facility located in Miami, Oklahoma, from Red Collar’s parent company Arbor Investments. Nestle Purina has worked with Red Collar since 2022 to co-manufacture many soft chew treats under Purina’s portfolio and the Zuke’s brand. (Petfoodprocessing)
• Royal Canin issued a voluntary recall of one lot of its Veterinary Feline Renal Support pet food formula. The recall is due to a mislabeling error, in which some bags of the Veterinary Feline Renal Support may contain a different cat food formula. (Petfood Processing)
• PetMed Express, announced it will begin offering access to Pumpkin Insurance Services Inc. to its more than 2 million PetMeds customers. (PRweb)
• AB Vista announced the acquisition of Progres, an innovative natural additive from Finnish biosciences company Hankkija. Progres is a patented natural resin acids product that improves gut integrity by reducing inflammation and stimulating tissue recovery with a healing effect. It also beneficially modulates intestinal microbiota. (Feedstuffs – subscription)
• Tetracore, Inc. announced it has partnered with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to supply a stock of PCR kits for both African Swine Fever (ASF) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). The kits were purchased for use in the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank. (DVM360)
• Bioved Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the launch of Shwan (Dog) Ayurved, its scientifically validated natural animal health products. The line includes Anitrex for bone and joint health, Anilean for weight management, Ammunex for boosting immunity and Anilive for liver health. (Yahoo)
• Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production announced the launch of Certillus Eco Dairy Bedding, a patented solution using Bacillus strains to inhibit environmental mastitis-causing organisms. (Feedstuffs – subscription)
• The Veterinary Cooperative has partnered with GlobalVetLink to add the GlobalVetLink Compliance Assistant to their veterinary practices portfolio of services. (Yahoo)
• Montana Dog Food officially launched, offering freeze-dried raw diets, treats and veterinarian-formulated supplements for dogs. (Petfood Processing – subscription)
• CANADA Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. announced a significant expansion to its existing exclusive retail partnership with  Canada’s Canadian Tire. Petco shop-in-shops will be available in 90% of Canadian Tire’s locations across the country by the middle of 2023, as well as online at canadiantire.ca. (company press release)
• CANADA Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming announced it will open its first location in Canada in 2023. The Toronto location will be the first the company’s planned 200 locations in Canada. (Pet Business)
• BELGIUM Pet food maker Edgard & Cooper announced they have raised EUR 20 million ($21 million). The investment round was led by venture capitalist The Craftory with participation from DLF Venture. (Globalpets)
• CHINA Partner Pet – a Hangzhou-based freeze-dried pet food company – announced it has received a strategic investment from L Catterton. The funds will be used to expand its domestic operations. (Globalpets)
• NETHERLANDS VetPartners announced an agreement for 14 DierenDokters veterinary practices in the Netherlands, giving VetPartners a presence in 8 European countries. Financial terms were not disclosed. (Vettimes)
• TURKEY United Petfood announced its intention to acquire a stake in Lider Pet Food, a Turkish pet food producer, at the end of January. Lider produces dry and wet pet food and treats, as well as feed for birds, rabbits and rodents. (Petfood Processing – subscription)

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ANIMAL HEALTH STOCK PRICE TRACKER

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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS

• SPAIN – BSE Spain has reported atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a dead cow in the northwestern region of Galicia. The disease was detected after the 22-year-old cow was euthanized due to signs of illness not related to BSE. (Reuters)
• US – AVIAN INFLUENZA The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is considering options and soliciting input from industry stakeholders on whether to authorize vaccinating poultry against avian influenza. No vaccine has been designed to work against the specific clade of highly pathogenic avian influenza that has been circulating for the past year, and scientists with the federal government are evaluating the efficacy of existing vaccines. (AVMA Smartbrief)
• US – VETERINARIAN REGULATION Arkansas’ state legislature is considering House Bill 1182, which would allow for veterinarian technician specialists to prescribe drugs and perform minor surgeries to help expand access to healthcare to house pets and livestock in the state. The bill passed the House last week and is scheduled to be taken up Tuesday by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development. The bill is controversial among veterinarians, with some arguing it would be contrary to federal rules regulating drugs and make veterinarian technician specialists equivalent to doctors of veterinarian medicine. Proponents argue that it would be no different than nurse practitioners in human medicine. (nwaonline)
• US – ASF RESEARCH  University of Minnesota researchers recently led successful efforts to work on African swine fever virus (ASFV), developing and validating a surrogate virus for ASFV (Emiliania huxleyi virus) which is strikingly similar to ASFV in terms of its structure and stability. It can safely be used in field studies to help scientists understand more about how the virus is transmitted in real-world conditions, and what strategies are effective to prevent its spread. (Feedstuffs – subscription)
• US – PESTICIDE OVERSIGHT The Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) at the U.S. EPA and the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at the U.S. FDA announced plans to seek public input on the best approaches for updating their respective oversight responsibilities for specific products in an efficient and transparent manner. As part of this effort, EPA and FDA will hold a joint virtual public meeting on March 22, 2023, to provide information and receive public comment. Additional information about the public meeting, including more detailed information describing challenges with the current approach, and how to submit public comments, will be posted on both FDA’s and EPA’s websites starting next week. (FDA)
• US – CATTLE LEGISLATION A bipartisan group of senators has reintroduced The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act, which would require USDA to establish five to seven regions across the country that reasonably reflect similar fed cattle purchases. It would also require USDA to establish minimum purchase levels through approved pricing mechanisms that packers controlling 5% or more of fed cattle slaughter would be required to make. (Feedstuffs – subscription)
• US – SWINE HEALTH The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the USDA, National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council have formed a new partnership to enhance coordination and preparedness to prevent and protect the United States from African swine fever. (National Hog Farmer)

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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT

The item in this week’s newsletter from Arkansas discussing Certified Veterinary Technician Specialists (VTS) merits attention.  A bill has been introduced in the Arkansas legislature to give certified VTS’s the authority to prescribe certain drugs and to perform minor surgical procedures, similar to the scope of authority granted to nurse practitioners in human medicine.  It would require that the certified VTS would work for and under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, and the supervising veterinarian would be required to personally see the treated animal within 15 days after the VTS has administered care.

The effort to educate veterinary technicians to a higher level and to allow them to become certified in areas of specialties has been ongoing for at least 20 years.  However, a successful legislative effort to empower technicians to expand their scope of practice and responsibility could substantially change the dynamic between veterinarians and certified VTS’s.

The shortage of veterinarians in rural areas has left Arkansas with the lowest ratio of veterinarians per capita at 14 veterinarians per 100,000 population.  Passage of this bill could result in critical relief to farmers and their animals as well as expand the availability of care for pets in places where veterinary care remains difficult to deliver.  Of course, it is to be expected that some veterinarians might see this effort as competition for the traditional veterinary practice.  And, as quoted in a recent article published in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Dr. Everett Rogers, president of the Arkansas VMA, said that there are currently no certified VTS’s in the state of Arkansas.  Any impact on accessibility of care would appear to be on a fairly long timeline.  We’ll keep you posted on this topic as there is more news to report.

Jim Kroman
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YOUR VIEW
Last week’s question asked if you have ever been subjected to a non-compete agreement by an employer.  39% of respondents told us that they currently work under a non-compete, 32% have done so in the past but do not have one now, and 29% have never worked under one.

This week
Let’s get your response to the topic (above) of certified VTS’s.  This week’s question is:  Would an enhanced medical role for certified Veterinary Technician Specialists as described above: