Animal Health News & Notes for January 21, 2022

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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for January 21, 2022
Copyright © Brakke Consulting
Editor: Lynn Fondon DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:

Brakke Consulting News
2022 Industry Overview

Earnings News
Avivagen
Virbac

Other News
ADM
Alliance Animal Health
AnimalBiome
Antech
Boehringer Ingelheim
CareCredit
Centravet
Clarius Mobile Health
Danisco Animal Nutrition
Elanco (Zorbium)
Elanco (TechMix)
Felix Biotechnology
IDEXX
Innovetive Petcare
L Catterton
LightBay Capital
MabGenesis
Mars
Metalmark Capital
Mission Pets
Nom
North State Industries
One Health Company
Pawlicy Advisor
PetDesk
Purpose Investments
RESET Bioscience
SportPet
Starbar Products
Synchrony
TechMix
TheraVet
VCA
Vet Set Go
Vetter
Weave

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KC ANIMAL HEALTH CORRIDOR
ANIMAL HEALTH SUMMIT
NOW ACCEPTING 2022 EMERGING COMPANY APPLICATIONS

The KC Animal Health Corridor is now accepting applications from early-stage companies to present at the 14^th annual Animal Health Summit, held in Kansas City on August 29-30, 2022.

The 14^th annual Summit is one of the only opportunities in the world for early-stage companies in the animal health and nutrition 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 4. 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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EARNINGS NEWS RELEASES

• Virbac SA reported results for the full year 2021. Annual revenue was EUR 1,064 million ($1,206 million), an increase of 17% excluding Sentinel (+14% at real scope) compared with the same period in 2020. Excluding the unfavorable impact of exchange rates, revenue rose by 18% excluding Sentinel (+15% at real scope). In the United States, business excluding Sentinel grew by 35% (+41% at constant exchange rates), benefitting from sustained sales across all product lines and the manufacturing of the Sentinel Spectrum for Merck. (company website)
• Avivagen reported financial results for the year ended October 31, 2021. The Company reported revenues of $1.3 million, an increase of 10% compared to the prior year. Comprehensive loss was $(6.4) million compared to a comprehensive loss of $(4.8) million in the prior year. (company press release)

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Brakke Consulting
Announcing the 2022 Brakke Industry Overview

Presented at WVC: Monday, March 7th, 2-4 pm, Four Seasons Hotel, Acacia Ballroom

We are back to being in person!  Come join us at Brakke Consulting’s annual Industry Overview presented at WVC in 2022. The Overview will feature industry and top global company performance, brand new market research from companion animal veterinarians, and a closer look at the current and future use of monoclonal antibodies in veterinary medicine.

Brand new this year – led by Brakke Senior Consultant Paul Casady, a panel of industry leaders will discuss their views on the outlook for the companion animal market, so you can hear firsthand from these experts.  Who will be presenting at WVC:

• Mr. Randolph Legg, President and Head of Commercial Business, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA
• Mr. Steve Shell, President of MWI Animal Health

Sign up today using this link, or email Amanda McDavid or call her at 336-396-3916.  Pre-registration cost is $399; there are discounts for multiple attendees from the same company.  We look forward to seeing you there!

www.BrakkeConsulting.com
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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES

• Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health announced a collaboration with Japanese startup MabGenesis to find novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics for canine conditions. MabGenesis currently has feline, canine and camel antibody libraries; its own animal health pipeline currently has two canine therapeutic candidates, targeting oncology and autoimmune disease. (IHS Markit Connect)
• The FDA announced it has approved Elanco‘s Zorbium (buprenorphine transdermal solution), the first transdermal buprenorphine animal drug intended to control pain in cats after surgery. (FDA)
• One Health Company announced a collaboration with IDEXX Laboratories to offer the FidoCure Next Generation DNA Sequencing Test to its veterinary customers in the United States and Canada later this month. The FidoCure Next Generation DNA Sequencing Test identifies genetic mutations in order to enable personalized treatment and care for cancer. (company press release)
• Antech Diagnostics announced the launch of KeyScreen GI Parasite PCR, a molecular diagnostic test that detects 20 parasites, including anthelmintic drug-resistant hookworm and zoonotic Giardia from a single, storable 0.15 gram sample. (finance.yahoo.com)
• Mars announced it has agreed to acquire direct-to-consumer pet-food brand Nom Nom, which will be an autonomous brand within Mars’s Royal Canin division. Financial terms have not been disclosed. (Pet Business)
• Starbar Products announced the launch of Exhalt WDG Insect Growth Regulator (novaluron) featuring two methods of application. (NationalHogFarmer.com)
• Danisco Animal Nutrition, a business unit of IFF’s Health & Biosciences division, announced the launch of Bovizyme GA enzyme in the US; and two Omni-Bos probiotics in the Middle East. Bovizyme GA is an enzyme solution that improves starch digestion efficiency for non-steam flaker feed yards. (Beefmagazine.com)
• ADM announced the opening of its Aquaculture Innovation Lab at the Animal Nutrition Technology Center (ANTC) in Decatur, Illinois – which aims to build on the company’s existing aquaculture research facilities in Brazil, Mexico and Vietnam. (thefishsite.com)
• Clarius Mobile Health introduced Clarius HD3, its third-generation product line of high-performance handheld wireless ultrasound scanners for veterinarians. (dotmed.com)
• Felix Biotechnology announced it signed a partnership with AnimalBiome to develop new phage-based solutions to address diarrhea in pets. (Finance.yahoo.com)
• VCA Animal Hospitals and Vet Set Go announced a partnership to nurture and grow future veterinary professionals. Vet Set Go has been dedicated to helping elementary, middle school and high school aspiring veterinary professionals for over ten years. With VCA, the organizations will create new and expanded opportunities for hands-on experience, shadowing, and educational resources for students. (KPVI.com)
• Metalmark Capital announced that it has raised new capital to support the continued growth of Innovetive Petcare. As of December 31, 2021, Innovetive operates 62 clinics across the southern and eastern US. (valdostadailytimes.com)
• Alliance Animal Health announced that it has received a significant growth investment from the Flagship Fund of L Catterton. LightBay Capital will retain a significant minority stake. Founded in 2016, Alliance Animal Health is a multi-site owner, operator, and business partner to veterinarians across the US. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. (wfmz.com)
• SportPet, a TopSpin Consumer Partners portfolio company, announced it has acquired Mission Pets. Financial terms were not disclosed. (Pet Product News)
• North State Industries announced the launch of the MyPet Safety Paws product line, featuring safety needs for pet owners. (Pet Business)
• Synchrony and Pawlicy Advisor announced a strategic partnership for Pawlicy Advisor to offer Synchrony’s CareCredit in the Pawlicy Advisor pet insurance marketplace. (insurancenewsnet.com)
• Weave, an all-in-one customer communication platform for small business, and Vetter, an animal healthcare software technology company, announced their integration. With this integration, Weave will automatically sync with Vetter’s data, eliminating the need for manual data uploads; Vetter users will be able to see real-time updates to their daily calendars and patient contact information. (valdostadailytimes.com)
• PetDesk announced their newest product, PetDesk Pay – a centralized payment solution for veterinary practices to manage and collect payments. PetDesk Pay supports anywhere, anytime payment collection via text message through its Text2Pay functionality. (PRweb.com)
• RESET Bioscience introduced Pet CBD Drops to their portfolio. (PRNewswire)
• SPAIN TechMix, LLC announced an agreement with Elanco Spain for sales and marketing in Spain of YMCP Vitall, an effervescent bolus that disburses nutrients for fresh cow recovery. (Feedstuffs)
• FRANCE TheraVet announced it has signed a distribution deal with veterinary co-operative Centravet for its Biocera-Vet bone substitute line in France. (IHS Markit Connect)
• CANADA Purpose Investments announced it has launched Purpose Healthcare Innovation Yield, a fund focused on innovation in biotech and healthcare. As well as supporting high-growth opportunities in the human health sector, the new fund will also target investment in the animal health market for both food-producing animals and pets. (IHS Markit Connect)

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ANIMAL HEALTH STOCK PRICE TRACKER

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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS

• US – AVIAN INFLUENZA The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed that a wild duck harvested by a hunter in Colleton County, South Carolina, is the first wild bird since 2016 to be found infected in the United States with the Eurasian H5 type of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The State Veterinarian asks that anyone involved with poultry or egg production, from large farms all the way down to backyard flocks, review their biosecurity practices to assure the health of their birds. (Sfntoday.com)
• SPAIN – AVIAN INFLUENZA Spain has reported an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus on a farm of 18,900 birds north of Madrid. A restriction zone had been established around the outbreak. (Reuters)
• US – VETERINARY WELL-BEING Merck Animal Health released findings of its comprehensive study conducted in collaboration with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) examining the wellbeing and mental health of U.S. veterinarians. Conducted by Brakke Consulting in the fall of 2021, the wide-ranging Veterinary Wellbeing Study is the third survey since 2017 and the first since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with a goal to examine and bring critical awareness to the challenges impacting the veterinary profession, while highlighting the impact that the pandemic has on practitioners and staff. For the first time, the study includes responses from veterinary technicians and support staff and their perspectives on the challenges they are currently facing in work. (PRnewswire)
• WORLD – ONCOLOGY A Glossary of terms used commonly in veterinary oncology has been launched by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Oncology Working Group.  The Oncology Glossary  explains in straightforward language many of the medical terms used in describing the presentation, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in pets with images to help illustrate some of the key terms. The Glossary is available on the WSAVA website. (association press release)
• WORLD – HUMAN ANIMAL BOND The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and Zoetis announced the results of a survey of 16,000 dog and cat owners and 1,200 veterinarians across eight countries and four continents. The research shows that the human-animal bond is strong, that pets positively impact their owners’ health, and that stronger bonds are connected to improved veterinary care around the world. (association press release)

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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT

Almost back to normal.  That’s how a lot of people, including me, felt this week at the VMX veterinary meeting and expo in Orlando.  Attendance was down from non-COVID years, but still over 15,000 attended the conference and many exhibitors felt that their time there was well spent.

At VMX, Merck Animal Health released findings of the Veterinary Wellbeing Study, the third survey of veterinarians since 2017 and the first survey of veterinary technicians and support staff.  The concept of the wellbeing study started with Brakke Consulting’s John Volk and with the collaboration of the AVMA, this report showed how COVID impacted people working in clinics.  Another notable observation was how serious staff shortages were and the stress that this caused the clinic teams.  From Merck’s press release:

“The percentage of veterinarians with serious psychological distress has increased to 9.7% in 2021 as measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, compared to 6.4% in 2019, due in large part to the ongoing pandemic. Among staff, the prevalence of serious psychological distress was nearly twice as high (18.1%). In addition, half of staff respondents (49.6%) and approximately one-third (30.5%) of veterinarians reported high levels of burnout.”

Back to VMX.  The Brakke Consulting Industry Overview was well attended, the KCAHC/UVSA/Animalytix Networking Summit was well attended and, in the evenings, the bars at the Hyatt and Hilton were well attended.  Almost back to normal.

Bob Jones

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YOUR VIEW

Last week we asked about your expectations for work travel in 2022.  Over 60% of respondents expect to travel more and 30% expect to travel about the same.  Surprisingly, 10% thought they’d travel less than last year.  At VMX this week, lots of people were happy to be traveling…and seeing people they haven’t seen in person for a long time.

This week, lets hear from those of you that attended VMX in Orlando.  So, if you attended…please click a few more times for us and let us know what you thought.

Overall, my experience at VMX was