Animal Health News & Notes for July 23, 2021

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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for July 23, 2021
Copyright © Brakke Consulting
Editor: Lynn Fondon DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:

Brakke Consulting News
Results of subscriber reading recommendations

Earnings News
Animalcare
Neogen
Orion
Virbac

Other News
Ametza
AnimalBiome
Anivive Lifesciences
Ascendis
AusCann
CareCredit
Cargill
Clipper Distributing
Colorado Serum Company
FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals
Jurox
Kyron
Mars
MeaTech 3D
Mella Pet Care
Mizner Bioscience
PetHonesty
PetPlate
Pet Supplies Plus
Phelps Pet Products
Reichert Technologies
Synchrony
Vestar Capital Partners
VETCBD Hemp
Vetz Petz
Whistle
Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition

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2021 DIGITAL ANIMAL HEALTH SUMMIT
August 24-26, 2021
Location: Online
Registration is now open for the Digital Animal Health Summit.

Register today! The Digital Animal Health Summit features 27 hours of 1:1 business partnering, 8 LIVE programs, 10+ on-demand webinars and 10+ emerging company presentations.  Learn more

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COMPANY EARNINGS RELEASES

• Virbac reported results for the second quarter of 2021. Revenue was EUR 263 million ($313 million), an 18% increase excluding Sentinel (+14% at actual scope). Growth was mainly driven by the performance of Europe and the Asia-Pacific area. (Globenewswire)
• Neogen Corporation announced results for its full 2021 fiscal year, which ended May 31, 2021. The Animal Safety segment reported revenues of $234 million, an increase of 14% compared to fiscal year 2020. (company website)
• Orion Animal Health reported results for the second quarter of 2021. Revenues were EUR 17.6 million ($20.7 million), a 9.5% decline year-on-year. (IHS Markit Connect)
• Animalcare reported interim results for the first six months of 2021. Total sales were GBP 39.1 million ($53 million), an increase of 13% (+14% at constant exchange rates). (IHS Markit Connect)

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BRAKKE CONSULTING
READING SUGGESTIONS

Last week, we asked you to submit your favorite books about animals.  Thanks for sharing your love of reading! And congratulations to our $25 drawing winners: Martha Sherman, Jennifer Ellison, and Kristi Haiker.

Here are the responses:

• A Crack in Creation (Jennifer Doudna)
• A Dogs Purpose (W. Bruce Cameron)
• Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process (Irene Pepperberg)
• All Creatures Great & Small (James Herriot) and all the Herriot books
• All My Patients are Under the Bed (Dr, Louis Camuti)
• Animal Farm (George Orwell)
• Animals in Translation (Temple Grandin)
• The Art of Racing in the Rain (Garth Stein)
• Beatrix Potter books
• Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
• Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World (Vicki Myron)
• The Dog Master (W. Bruce Cameron)
• Heal (Arlene Weintraub)
• How Will You Measure Your Life? (Clayton Christensen)
• The Incredible Journey (Sheila Burnford)
• In the Garden of Beasts (Erik Larson)
• Just One More Day (Geoffrey Bain)
• Knight’s Ransom (Jeff Wheeler)
• Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
• Marley & Me (John Grogan)
• Mind Over Miller: Thirty-Six Years of Veterinary Wisdom (Robert M. Miller)
• My Dog Charley (John Steinbeck)
• Pet Nation (Mark Cushing)
• The Power of Bad: How the Negativity Effect Rules Us and How We Can Rule It (John Tierney & Roy Baumeister)
• Rabid (Monica Murphy)
• Seabiscuit: An American Legend (Laura Hillenbrand)
• Reckless America’s War Horse (Robin Hutton)
• Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life (Nancy Kay)
• Spillover (David Quammen)
• The Splendid and the Vile (Erik Larson)
• Unlikely Friendships (Jennifer Holland)
• Unsaid (Neil Abramson)
• The Velveteen Rabbit (Margery Williams Bianco)
• Watership Down (Richard Adams)
• We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves (Karen Joy Fowler)
• Where the Red Fern Grows (Wilson Rawls)
• Zoobiquity (Barbara Natterson Horowitz)

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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES

• Mizner Bioscience and Clipper Distributing announced the launch of Nobatol, the first and only veterinary-labeled phenobarbital for the treatment of generalized canine epilepsy. Nobatol is available in a scored, beef-flavored soft chewable tablet in two dose sizes. (company press release)
• Due to federal regulations meant to curb the spread of equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H), a novel equine virus, Colorado Serum Company announced that it will no longer produce three products: Novel Equine Serum; Tetanus Antitoxin-concentrated/purified; and West Nile Antiserum. Additionally, the company’s regular Tetanus Antitoxin is required to be labeled “Do not use in equine species.” (Vet Advantage)
• Vetz Petz announced the launch of joint health supplement Vetz Petz Antinol in the US market. Vetz Petz Antinol consists of a concentrated formula of six marine lipid groups including Omega-3, ETA, EPA, DHA, DPA OTA and over 90 essential fatty acids. Vetz Petz also announced a partnership with the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA) in conjunction with the launch. (Pet Age)
• Anivive Lifesciences announced it has received a $500,000 grant through the MUMS initiative to accelerate ongoing studies of Laverdia-CA1 (verdinexor), a conditionally-approved oral tablet that targets lymphoma in dogs. (IHS Markit Connect)
• FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals announced the launch of AccuStaph, an on-farm mastitis culture test found 99% sensitive for Staphylococcus aureus (company press release)
• Mars Veterinary Health North America announced a $500 million multi-year investment in programs that enhance the health and wellbeing of their veterinary employees. Key aspects of the investment and commitments by 2025 include increased wages and benefits; educational and career pathways to strengthen veterinary professionals’ careers; student debt relief; and Equity, Inclusion & Diversity (EI&D) initiatives. (Bollyinside.com)
• Pet Supplies Plus announced that 60 select stores across the country will carry PetPlate fresh-cooked pet food. Pet Supplies Plus is the first retailer to carry the PetPlate line. (Franchising.com)
• Phelps Pet Products announced a partnership with Disney to launch Table Scraps, a dog treats line with eight SKUs each branded with a different Disney character. (Petfood Industry)
• Vestar Capital Partners announced it has agreed to make a majority investment in PetHonesty, a manufacturer of pet health products including pet supplements. PetHonesty’s co-founders will retain a significant minority stake in the company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. (Pet Product News)
• AnimalBiome announced it has received an undisclosed amount of funding from Cargill. The AnimalBiome database features over 12,500 DNA samples from 10,000 individual cats and dogs. The investment provides Cargill with access to AnimalBiome’s sequencing and database capabilities to enhance development of its own microbiome insights platform. (IHS Markit Connect)
• Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition announced it has acquired Ametza’s forage pellet business. Financial terms were not disclosed. (GlobalPets)
• Mella Pet Care announced it has launched a smart thermometer for companion animals that integrates artificial intelligence and sensor technology. The firm claims its Mella Thermometer is the first smart thermometer for companion animals that non-invasively takes a temperature reading. (IHS Markit Connect)
• Reichert Technologies announced the launch of the all-new Tono-Vera Tonometer with ActiView Positioning System. (Veterinary Practice News)
• VETCBD Hemp has announced the launch of its first equine-specific product, a broad spectrum CBD tincture derived from American-grown hemp. (Valdostadailytimes.com)
• Whistle announced the launch of The Whistle Switch Smart Collar, which offers 24/7 GPS location monitoring of pets, as well as health and fitness monitoring for dogs as small as 5 pounds. (IHS Markit Connect)
• Synchrony announced it has expanded CareCredit into the equine market. The CareCredit contactless payment solution will bring point-of-care innovation to equine veterinary practices. In conjunction, the company announced it has become an American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Educational Partner. (company press release)
• MeaTech 3D announced the initiation of new research and development activities for an additional meat market segment, focusing on cell lines and technologies for the potential future mass production of cultivated pork. The company’s offerings already include beef and chicken cell lines. (Feedstuffs)
• UK Jurox announced it has reformulated Buprelieve (buprenorphine injection) to contain the preservative benzethonium chloride, a change said to reduce pain on injection when compared to buprenorphine multidose formulations that are preserved with chlorocresol. (Vettimes.co.uk)
• SOUTH AFRICA Ascendis Health Limited announced plans to divest its animal health business, comprised of three divisions: Ascendis Vet, Ascendis Animal Health, and Kyron Prescriptions and Kyron Laboratories.  The unaudited profit after tax attributable to Animal Health for the six months ended December 31, 2020 was R33 million ($2.3 million); a preliminary cash value of R770 million ($53 million) has been placed on the Animal Health business for purposes of the sale of shares agreement. (Moneyweb.co.za)
• AUSTRALIA AusCann has submitted the first module of its dossier to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Association (APVMA) for the registration of DermaCann, a cannabinoid-based veterinary product in development for anti-inflammatory and immune support in dogs with dermatological conditions. Subject to approval, DermaCann would be the first and only APVMA-approved, cannabinoid-based veterinary product. (Yahoo Finance)

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ANIMAL HEALTH STOCK PRICE TRACKER

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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS

• GERMANY – ASF The first two cases of ASF in domestic pigs in Germany have been confirmed. One case was discovered on an organic farm in the district of Spree-Neiße, Brandenberg, where one sow died, and the second was discovered at a small holding with two pigs in the district of Märkisch-Oderland. The cause of introduction is unclear in both cases. In Brandenburg, ASF had been found in a total of 1,267 wild boars. (Feedstuffs)
• US – BIOTECH REGULATION A new report from a panel of experts convened by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities says current regulatory protocols haven’t kept up with technological change and must be modernized for new technology such as gene editing to benefit the industry. The “AAVMC/APLU Gene Editing in Agriculture Task Force Report” contains several specific recommendations for regulatory officials and lawmakers to consider as they envision “what a modernized and progressive framework for the regulation of gene-edited livestock in the U.S.” should be. (Vet Advantage – Farm Progress)

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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT

Access to high speed internet in rural America has been an ongoing problem for many years, but the recent COVID pandemic has only highlighted the importance of the issue. According to information published, between 6-12% of Americans still do not have access to a quality internet service. And during the pandemic, we see that the only way to get certain services was through internet access.

Notwithstanding the need for this support to enable modern farming techniques such as precision agriculture, newer technologies around animal management are coming to fruition that will require access to high speed internet service. Without it, the new technologies are just ‘pretty toys’.  An estimate was recently proposed that it would cost around $80B to solve the problem and provide broadband to most, if not all, Americans who want access. While the government is printing and spending money in unfathomable amounts, this seems a small number to fix a big issue. Let your representative know!

Paul Casady

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YOUR VIEW

Last week we asked if you knew anyone with pet insurance. Over half of you (57%) said you did, with 27% saying your own pet(s) are insured, and 42% saying you know someone who has insurance for their pets.  Imagine if the rest of the pet owning public followed our lead.

This week

The first financial reports for Q2 posted this week, with 3 of the 4 companies in the newsletter recording double-digit increases.

What is your prediction for the industry growth for the quarter?