***********************************
Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for January 3, 2025
Copyright © Brakke Consulting
Editor: Lynn Fondon DVM MBA
************************************
IN THE NEWS:
Brakke Consulting News
Brakke Consulting 2025 Industry Overview
Earnings News
General Mills
Zesty Paws
Other News
AquaBounty Technologies
Barkpass
Chemaphor
Crown Veterinary Services
epiq Animal Health
Interpath Global
Inventory Ally
Mars Veterinary Health
Mylab Discovery Solutions
Northwest Naturals
Parasight System
PettureX
Rising Sun Holding
Vetspire
Zoetis
Zomedica
Zydus Animal Health & Investments
*****************************************
Brakke Consulting
Brakke Consulting 2025 Industry Overview
Presented at VMX: Monday, January 27th, 2-4 pm, Hyatt Regency, Plaza Intl Ballroom G
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 – What Happened in 2024, 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 VMX are Jeff Simmons, President and CEO of Elanco Animal Health, and Jay H. Price, DVM, CEO of Southern Veterinary Partners.
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 VMX
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!
*********************************************
EARNINGS NEWS RELEASES
- General Mills, Inc. reported results for its fiscal 2025 second quarter. Second-quarter net sales for the North America Pet segment were up 5% to $596 million. Segment operating profit of $139 million was up 36%. (company press release)
- Health and Happiness (H&H) reported results for the first nine months of 2024. Zesty Paws, the pet portfolio of H&H, saw 5% year-on-year revenue growth, reaching RMB 1.46 billion ($201M). (Globalpets)
**************************************
COMPANY NEWS RELEASES
- The FDA has issued a “Dear Veterinarian” letter notifying practitioners about adverse events reported in dogs treated with Zoetis’ Librela. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine is recommending that the current label get a “Post Approval Experience” section and that “owners be advised of the adverse reactions that may occur following administration of Librela.” Zoetis is in discussions with the FDA on label updates and expects it will reflect post approval adverse event reporting and be more similar to labels in other markets. (Todays Veterinary Business)
- Zomedica announced the launch of two new canine assays for the Truforma In-Clinic Biosensor Testing Platform: a canine NT-poBNP test and a canine progesterone assay. (theglobeandmail.com)
- epiq Animal Health and Interpath Global announced a strategic partnership to bring 4CYTE nutraceutical to animal health distribution channels in the US. Previously only available abroad, 4CYTE is made with Epiitalis, derived from plant seed oil high in unique fatty acids, to enhance joint health in dogs and horses. (businesswire)
- Parasight System announced the launch of its new FlowsightAI and HemasightAI technology, powered by the All-in-One diagnostic analyzer. (company press release)
- Northwest Naturals issued a voluntary recall for a batch of raw and frozen pet food after a cat died of avian influenza after eating the food. Results from genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and infected cat were exact matches to each other. (com)
- AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. announced that the Company will wind down its last remaining fish farming operation, including a reduction of its workforce and the exit of several senior management members including its CEO. The company will continue to work with its investment banker to assess alternatives for its Ohio farm project, and will continue to market and sell available assets to generate cash. (company press release)
- Inventory Ally announced an integration with Vetspire practice management platform. (company press release)
- Chemaphor announced that its international patent application “Compositions and methods for promoting weight gain and fed conversion” has received acceptances in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Russia. The invention relates to the use of carotenoid oxidation products as non-antibiotic alternatives to promote growth and feed conversion in food animals. Applications are presently pending in other regions of the world, including the US, Europe, Asia and South America. (accesswire)
- Barkpass, a software company specializing in pet licensing and dog park management, announced it has been acquired from the founders by Steve Zeidman, a 25-year veteran in the animal care technology industry and established entrepreneur. Financial terms were not disclosed. (company announcement)
- PettureX announced the launch of PettureX App, its AI-powered health scanning application. By analyzing photos taken by pet owners, the technology can identify potential clinical abnormalities before they develop into serious conditions. (teinnews.com)
- INDIA Zydus Animal Health & Investments Limited announced it is exiting its investment in Mylab Discovery Solutions Private Limited by selling its shares in the diagnostics company back to Rising Sun Holding Private Limited, for the original consideration of 106 crores. No reasons were given for the termination. (com)
- INDIA Crown Veterinary Services (Crown Vet) – with a network of eight clinics across five cities in India – announced Mars Veterinary Health has entered the Indian veterinary sector through a minority investment. Financial terms were not disclosed. (com)
*********************************************
ANIMAL HEALTH STOCK PRICE TRACKER
***********************************
ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS
- US – SCREWWORM The USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced $165 million in emergency funding to protect U.S. livestock and other animals from New World screwworm (NWS) and to increase USDA’s ongoing efforts to control the spread of NWS in Mexico and Central America. (Feedstuffs)
- US – SALMONELLA The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) has published a notice informing veterinary biologics manufacturers of the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) interest in Salmonella vaccines for poultry. FSIS extended the comment period for the Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products proposed rule and determination until Jan. 17, 2025. Written comments may be submitted online via the federal eRulemaking portal, available at www.regulations.gov; or by mail or hand delivery. All items submitted must include the agency name and docket number FSIS-2023-0028. (com)
- US – SWINE HEALTH The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is requesting public comments on a proposal to establish an official program for safeguarding, improving and representing the health status of U.S. pigs. APHIS has proposed a rule to build upon the pilot program U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP), aimed at certifying participating sites as monitored for African swine fever (ASF) and classical swine fever (CSF). APHIS will accept public comments at www.regulations.gov. All comments must be submitted on or before January 30, 2025. (com)
- US – BIOLOGICALS OVERSIGHT The FDA and USDA have made available a charter that details how the two agencies work together to determine the appropriate agency to regulate the small number of animal biologicals for which jurisdiction may be unclear. The charter includes a flowchart to help clarify which agency will regulate a given product, as well as information on how to request a jurisdiction determination from the FDA and USDA for animal biologicals. (FDA)
- US – VETERINARY CREDENTIALING Recent changes by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) aim to standardize and simplify the national licensing examination process for eligible candidates, helping veterinary technicians become licensed quicker. The changes include the AAVSB taking over determining eligibility for veterinary technicians who haven’t gone through a degree program to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). The AAVSB also modified the VTNE application process and examination windows. (association press release)
- US – AVMA POLICY The AVMA has a new policy on “Climate Change and Related Sustainability Issues” after requests by Association members and the AVMA House of Delegates (HOD) requested that the AVMA further elaborate its position on the topic. This new policy on climate change replaces AVMA policies on “Climate Change and One Health,” “Environmental Responsibility Is a One Health Issue,” and “Extractive Industries.” (association press release)
- US – AVIAN INFLUENZA IN CATS The FDA is providing pet owners and animal caretakers with information about ways to reduce the risk to their animals of contracting Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1). Felines, including both domestic and wild cats, are particularly sensitive to HPAI and care should be taken to not expose these animals to the virus. Cats should not be fed any products from affected farms that have not been thoroughly cooked or pasteurized to kill the virus. Cats should also be kept from hunting and consuming wild birds. (FDA)
- US – DOG AGING RESEARCH Researchers led by the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have received $7 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand a clinical trial studying rapamycin’s ability to extend the lives of companion dogs as part of The Dog Aging Project (DAP). (university press release)
- US – TURKEY VACCINES The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and the USPOULTRY Foundation announced the completion of a funded research project by researchers at North Carolina State University that showed not only that nontoxic segments of Clostridium septicum alpha toxin (ATX) possess a protective ability against experimental clostridial dermatitis (CD) infection of turkeys and can be suitable vaccine candidates but also that both parenteral and oral routes of vaccination can protect turkeys against CD. (Feedstuffs)
************************************
BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
One of the things that I learned in my career in the animal health industry is that to open a new chapter, the old chapter needs to be closed. The context for this was usually an acquisition, which happened to me five times, or a significant job change. But this week, let’s expand the opening and closing of chapters to the financial performance of companies on our stock table.
This week we have posted the full year stock price performance for 2024 for the animal health companies and next week the reporting of 2025 stock price performance will begin. Because of the large variation in stock price performance, we added the 2023 year-end performance for comparison. A few things stand out.
First, we have had two years of good and similar performance in the broader indexes – the S&P 500 and the DJIA. Second, of the currently public animal health companies, only Freshpet had two good years in a row – and their growth is about three times the S&P 500 growth. Third, for several companies, the gains seen in 2023 were given back in 2024 (Elanco, IDEXX, Neogen, Zoetis and Zomedica). Finally, 2024 was a much better year for only a few companies (Chewy, Phibro and Trupanion).
As we close 2024, let’s open 2025 and hope for impressive performance the publicly traded and private animal health companies. We’ll track it for you.
Bob Jones
***********************************
YOUR VIEW
Before Christmas, we asked about your company policies for end of the year time off. Most of you – 58% – said your company stays fully open between Christmas and New Year’s. 24% said your company essentially closes down and gives employees time off during that time; 14% said your company encourages employees to take vacation during that time; and 4% said the company closes down offices but expects employees to work from home.
This week
Before I get to our first question of 2025, I would like to thank our Senior Consultant Randy Freides and Amanda McDavid for pulling the stock price table together each week. Their weekly diligence is very much appreciated.
Now, for this week I’d like to ask for advice from you, our readers. Our stock table has traditionally been limited to publicly traded companies whose business is exclusively animal health or nutrition related. The thought behind this is that the stock price of these companies is directly related to their performance in our industry and is not impacted by other businesses in a company’s portfolio.
English (United States) 
Portuguese