Animal Health News & Notes for June 24, 2022

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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for June 24, 2022
Copyright © Brakke Consulting
Editor: Lynn Fondon DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:

Other News
Aker BioMarine
Alfasan
Cargill
Champion Petfoods,
Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group
Delacon
Dômes Pharma
EquiCord
Fairfax Financial Holdings
FidoCure
Garnett Station Partners
Hilton
IDEXX
JAB Holding Company
Kinship Partners
Mars Petcare
MWI Animal Health
NuGen Medical Devices
PetHealth
Pet Releaf
Phibro Animal Health
Rejuvenate Bio
Shepherd Veterinary Software
Thrive Pet Healthcare
Torigen Pharmaceuticals
Vets Pets
Wisdom Panel
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming

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K-STATE OLATHE
Animal Health Workshops and Seminars
Upcoming Events

Options available for both online and in-person attendance.

July 13-14  Advanced Animal Biologics:  This two-day workshop will cover practical issues in animal health regulatory affairs as it relates to the development of vaccines and other biologics to aid in assuring developed biologics are pure, safe, potent and effective.
July 28  Dissolution Seminar: Dissolution is an integral and complex part of the product development and regulatory process. This half-day seminar will highlight how dissolution impacts the process of researching, developing and manufacturing a solid oral dosage form as an animal health drug, with representatives from the Center for Veterinary Medicine(CVM) and industry.
August 31 – Sept 1  Animal Health Regulatory 101: This two-day, interactive workshop is an introductory course on the regulatory aspects of animal drug and vaccine development, providing attendees with an understanding of the veterinary drug approval processes.

Click on the seminar name for cost and registration details.

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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES

• IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. announce new reference laboratory tests and services in North America beginning in September 2022. Fecal Dx antigen testing is expanded to include the detection of flea tapeworm; FGF-23, a kidney disease management biomarker is added to its suite of kidney health diagnostics; and next-day PCR results are now available at no extra charge. (company press release)
• Phibro Animal Health and Rejuvenate Bio Inc. announced a collaboration to develop and commercialize a gene therapy for Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) in dogs, with plans to file for a conditional approval as early as 2023. (company press release)
• Champion Petfoods, which is currently privately held with investment from Bedford Capital, is exploring options for a potential sale of the company, according to Bloomberg Champion’s annual revenue in 2021 was approximately $200 million. (Petfood Industry)
• Torigen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has signed its first national distribution agreement with MWI Animal Health. The agreement will expand access to Torigen’s experimental autologous cancer vaccine for companion animals. (com)
• NuGen Medical Devices announced the launch of PetJet, a new needle-free injection device for companion animals. The device – NuGen’s first in animal health – is specially aimed at pets with chronic illnesses such as diabetes that require lifelong treatment with regular, often daily, injections. (IHS Markit Connect – subscription)
• Thrive Pet Healthcare and FidoCure announced a strategic partnership. The FidoCure precision medicine platform, now available at Thrive veterinary hospitals, uses genomic-guided DNA testing to identify genetic mutations that can cause cancer in dogs and matches them to individualized treatment with targeted therapies. (PRweb)
• Wisdom Panel, a division of Kinship Partners, Inc., announced the publication of the two largest genetic screening studies of cats and dogs ever conducted. Examining more than one million pets across the two studies, the research team genotyped thousands of genetic variants, providing insights into genetic diversity and variants associated with disease or traits in cats and dogs. The cat study was published in PLOS Genetics; the dog study is available in preprint on bioRxiv. (Businesswire)
• Pet Releaf announced the launch of their brand-new Stress Releaf Hemp Oils, designed to help manage stress and promote calming. Designed specifically for calming and managing situational stress, the USDA Organic product contains Full Spectrum Hemp Oil and Ashwagandha. (PRnewswire)
• Shepherd Veterinary Software announced the addition of a pet portal, giving clients the ability of request appointments and prescription refills online. (company press release)
• Vets Pets announced that the number of facilities it currently supports has risen to 30 thanks to the addition of two new North Carolina members: Crown Town Animal Hospital in Charlotte and Kindred Heart Animal Hospital in Carrboro. (PRnewswire)
• JAB Holding Company and Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited announced that JAB’s pet insurance business has agreed to acquire all of Fairfax’s interests in the Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group and PetHealth , including all of their worldwide operations. Fairfax will receive $1.4 billion in the form of $1.15 billion cash and $250 million in seller notes; as part of the transaction, Fairfax will also make a $200 million investment in JCP V, JAB’s latest consumer fund. Crum & Forster Pet insures over 500,000 pets and markets or serves as underwriter for numerous brands, including ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, 24Petprotect, Hartville Pet Insurance, Spot Insurance Services, Pumpkin Insurance Services, and PetCoach, LLC (provider of Petco pet insurance plans) in the US and Pets Plus Us in Canada; Pethealth provides wellbeing and safety solutions to shelters and pet parents under the 24Pet brand. (Businesswire)
• Hilton and Mars Petcare announced they are expanding their partnership across Hilton’s seven pet-friendly hotel brands, and will now offer access to virtual support from the Mars Pet Expert Team (PET) during their stay via Mars PET On-Demand — a convenient online service to answer questions related to traveling with your cat or dog — at more than 4,600 hotels in Hilton’s portfolio across the US and Canada. (Hospitalitynet)
• Garnett Station Partners, LLC announced it has acquired the Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming currently has more than 200 locations open or under development across 18 states. Financial terms were not disclosed. (Pet Business)
• Cargill announced it has signed a binding agreement to acquire Delacon, an expert in plant-based phytogenic additives, following a successful five-year partnership. Phytogenic feed additives use a broad range of herbs, plants and their extracts, such as essential oils, to improve livestock and aquaculture performance and promote animal health. Financial terms were not disclosed. (National Hog Farmer)
• The FDA has authorized two Aker BioMarine krill-based ingredients – QRILL Aqua and QRILL High Protein meal – for use in freshwater and marine salmonids. (Feed Navigator)
• EU Alfasan announced it has received a marketing authorization recommendation from the Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Cortaderm (hydrocortisone aceponate) cutaneous spray for the symptomatic treatment of inflammatory and pruritic dermatoses in dogs and for the alleviation of clinical signs associated with atopic dermatitis in dogs. (IHS Markit Connect – subscription)
• EU Dômes Pharma announced an exclusive distribution partnership with Spanish company EquiCord for DogStem, an injectable canine stem cell solution. The product is currently in the final stages of registration in Europe and the UK, and is expected to receive a centralized authorization this year, marking the first canine stem cell product in Europe. (IHS Markit Connect – subscription)

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ANIMAL HEALTH STOCK PRICE TRACKER

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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS

• ITALY – ASF A thousand pigs are to be slaughtered in Italy after two cases of African swine fever were detected on a farm in Rome’s Lazio region, Phys.org reports. These are the country’s first detected cases of ASF in farmed pigs; the disease has been detected in wild boar since January. (Vet Advantage – Phys.org)
• INDONESIA – FMD Indonesia announced it will launch a nationwide livestock vaccination program as the number of cattle in the country infected with foot and mouth disease surpassed 151,000. The disease has been found in 18 of the country’s 34 provinces. Indonesia’s government aims to import 3 million vaccine doses from producers in France, Australia, Brazil and New Zealand.  (Vet Advantage)
• US – VETERINARY EDUCATION The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges has received a $1.3 million grant from the Stanton Foundation to support the AAVMC Spectrum of Care initiative. “Spectrum of care” refers to the concept of offering clients a range of evidence-based care options, so they have more choices than just the most expensive treatment. The new grant will support work over the next two years to develop an educational model including the competency outcomes, assessment strategies and learning experiences that will prepare graduates to effectively practice this type of care. (Vet Advantage)

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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT

This week’s newsletter is chock full of items about new technologies, new products, new investments, new initiatives, and new collaborations – strong evidence that these are exciting times in animal health.

But not everything in our industry is bullish.  The University of Minnesota recently published market research that showed the strength of the plant-based movement.  31% of consumers said they would eat more plant-based protein over the next 5 years, and 36% said they were concerned about the environmental impact of animal production.  Although 80% said they preferred beef, pork and poultry as their protein sources, 20% did not.  To me, these data are surprising, and sobering for animal agriculture. And they don’t even address the growth in milk substitutes!  While I support people’s right to choose plant-based diets, we have to keep in mind that they reduce demand for meat, and thus animal health products.  It motivates me to grill some steaks this weekend.  You know, to help the industry.

John Volk, Senior Consultant
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YOUR VIEW

Last week we asked about your future career plans.  Most of you feel positively about our industry: 33% of you plan to only work in the animal health field, and another 31% say it would take a lot to get you to work outside animal health. 20% would easily take a job in another industry, and 12% no longer work in animal health.

This week

Let’s see how our readers compare to consumers in general.  Click on the question below:

Do you prefer plant-based protein or animal-based protein?  
       — Plant
       — Animal
       — I like both equally