ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS & NOTES FOR JULY 5, 2019

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Brakke Consulting’s 
Animal Health News & Notes for July 5, 2019
Copyright © Brakke Consulting

Editor: Lynn Fondon DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:

Brakke Consulting news
Transaction assistance

earnings news
Premier Veterinary

other news
Beyond Meat
Ceva (IDT)
Ceva (Isemid)
Compassion-First Pet Hospitals
IDT Biologika
Pestell Pet Products
Ralco
Thermo Fisher Scientific
VersaPet
Walmart
Wind Point Partners
Zoetis (ProHeart 12)
Zoetis (Aureomycin)

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BRAKKE CONSULTING
TRANSACTION ASSISTANCE

Buying, selling or merging? We can help!

Brakke Consulting assists many clients with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Our transaction experts can provide the insight, ability and contacts you need in the animal health, pet, veterinary and specialty chemicals markets. Please contact any of our offices for a confidential consultation.

www.BrakkeConsulting.com

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COMPANY EARNINGS RELEASES

• Premier Veterinary PLC reported results for the six months ended March 31, 2019. Revenue rose to GBP 1.9 million ($2.5 million) a 27% increase compared the comparable prior-year period. Pretax loss was GBP(1.6) million compared to GBP(1.9) million the year prior. (morningstar.co.uk)

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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES

• The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine announced the approval of Zoetis’ ProHeart 12 (moxidectin) extended-release injectable suspension for dogs 12 months of age and older for the prevention of heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis for 12 months. ProHeart 12 is also approved for the treatment of existing larval and adult hookworm infections. (FDA)

• Zoetis announced that the FDA has approved an additional label claim for Aureomycin as a feed additive for control of bacterial pneumonia in dairy replacement heifers. (Hoards Dairyman)

• Ceva Santé Animale and IDT Biologika GmbH announced that they have successfully completed Ceva’s acquisition of IDT’s veterinary biopharmaceutical and R&D activities. The product portfolio will be transferred to Ceva branding as quickly as possible, and a new global innovation center focused on swine vaccines will be created within IDT’s existing Dessau site. Financial terms were not disclosed. (company press release)

• Strong Animals, a brand of Ralco, announced the launch of ProsperEO Liquid, a new organic, OMRI certified, essential oil product. ProsperEO is a natural water additive that strengthens the immunity of swine, poultry and ruminant animals. (company press release)

• Thermo Fisher Scientific announced the launch of three new Applied Biosystems AgriSeq targeted genotyping by sequencing (GBS) panels for dogs and cats. The new SNP-based genotyping panels include the Canine Traits & Disorders Panel; the Canine SNP Parentage & ID Panel; and the Feline Parentage & ID + Traits & Disorders Panel. (company press release)

• Compassion-First Pet Hospitals announced the addition of two new hospitals to its family: Florida Veterinary Referral Center & 24-Hour Emergency Hospital and Animal Emergency Hospital of North Texas. Financial terms were not disclosed. (company press release)

• Walmart announced that it would be pulling all pet fish and live aquatic plants from its stores. The move began in March and is expected to be completed by Oct. 1, 2019. (Pet Business)

• Beyond Meat announced the launch of Beyond Beef, a plant-based ground meat made with a blend of pea, mung bean and rice proteins. Beyond Beef is designed to have the same versatility, meaty texture and juiciness of traditional ground beef. (Feedstuffs)

• UK Ceva Animal Health announced the UK launch of Isemid (Torasemide), a once-a-day diuretic for the treatment of congestive heart failure in dogs. Isemid is presented as pork-flavored, scored tablets in three strengths, and can be administered orally once daily, with or without food. (VetSurgeon)

• CANADA Wind Point Partners’ Pestell Group announced it has acquired VersaPet Inc. through its Pestell Pet Products business unit. VersaPet, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is a manufacturer of private label and branded cat litter products. Financial terms were not disclosed. (Pet Business)

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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS

• CANADA, NEW ZEALAND – FOAL RESEARCH Researchers have determined that digital and optical refractometers can be effectively used to assess failure of passive transfer (FPT) of immunity in foals, producing a reading in less than 15 seconds once a serum sample is obtained and requiring minimal equipment and technical expertise. The refractometry gave results were less accurate at diagnosing FPT than the gold-standard radial immunodiffusion (RID), but the former took seconds to complete instead of up to 24 hours required for RID. A second confirmatory test with higher specificity could be used to confirm FPT positive foals if refractometer tests are borderline. The research was published in published in the Equine Veterinary Journal. (TheHorse.com)

• JAPAN – PET MICROCHIPPING Japan passed a revised Act on Welfare and Management of Animals that ensures that all pets sold are microchipped. Currently, pets in the European Union are required to be microchipped. This is also the case in Australia, India, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand and several other nations around the world. (Animal Pharm)

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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT

Writing the closing for a newsletter that appears at the end of the week of July 4th, I could not let the holiday pass without comment. I suppose each of us, or at least each family, has their own special way of commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. In my small world growing up, celebrating frequently involved a family potluck dinner, but always included fireworks at our small country church. It was the only night of the year that the sun seemed to set too slowly. What ensued was our own version of the rockets’ red glare and the booms bursting in air. In adulthood, I celebrate our independence and the very special form of government that began that monumental day more quietly. I hope you had a moment to contemplate America’s uniqueness this week.

As I advanced through my career in animal health, the first week in July came to have an additional meaning. It meant business planning. Strategy, tactics, and budgets would be due, scrutinized and locked in stone in the next few weeks. It can be a time of questioning and uncertainty. Wouldn’t it be good to have an experienced someone or group with whom to pressure test your business plans for the balance of 2019 and for 2020? Perhaps you would receive a few suggestions for positive change or affirmation that you are spot on. Brakke Consulting is a small group of highly skilled animal health professionals with deep experience in virtually every animal health segment, and we’re here to help. I was going to say, as a group we have learned from and grown wiser by making every mistake in the book, but that could be misleading. We may have missed a few.

Cary Christensen

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