Animal Health News & Notes for June 4, 2021

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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for June 4, 2021
Copyright © Brakke Consulting
Editor: Lynn Fondon DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:

Brakke Consulting News
John Volk presenting in VIS Webinar

Earnings News
Avivagen
J.M. Smuckerols
Kane Biotech

Other News
Basepaws
Bond Vet
Cargill
Ethos Discovery
ezyVet
Genvax Technologies
IDEXX
IVC Evidensia
JBS SA
Jiminy’s
LexaGene Holdings
Mubadala
Novidia Veterinary
Petco
Vetoquinol
Vetstream
Zero Emission
Livestock ProjectZivo Bioscience
Zoetis (equine lameness)
Zoetis (Ketofen)
Zoetis (Simparica)

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Brakke Consultant Headlines VIS Webinar To Discuss Significant Trends And Growth Strategies In Veterinary Consolidation
June 22, 2021
12:00pm – 1:00pm EST 

Brakke consultant John Volk will share his insights on veterinary practice consolidation as a guest speaker on a June 22 webinar hosted by Veterinary Integrated Solutions (VIS).  VIS is a business consulting company and a solution provider serving corporate groups in veterinary and other domains.

The free webinar is part of its Leading With Purpose series: ‘Veterinary Consolidation Outlook: Pushing Beyond Your Current Plateau.’  The event is free upon registration and will take place live on Tuesday, June 22, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. EST. Click here for more details or to register. Other speakers include Dr. Ivan Zak, CEO of VIS, and Dr. Kurt Phillips, founder and CEO of City Way Animal Clinics, Indianapolis, IN.

https://vetintegrations.com/

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COMPANY EARNINGS RELEASES

• The M. Smucker Co. announced results for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2021. US Retail Pet Foods revenues were $2.84 billion, a decline of 1% compared to the prior year. Pet Food segment profit was $487 million, a decline of 12%. (company website)
• Kane Biotech announced first quarter 2021 financial results. Total revenue was $376,039, a decline of 18% compared to the first quarter of 2020. Loss for the quarter was ($1,010,892), compared to a loss of ($1,363,836) for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. (company press release)
• Avivagen announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter of 2021. The Company reported revenues of $159,614 compared to revenues of $29,625 in the prior-year quarter. Comprehensive loss was$(2,197,649), compared to a comprehensive loss of $(1,393,497) in the prior-year quarter. (company press release)

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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES

• Zoetis announced that it will expand its portfolio of equine horse care products, with the addition of Pro-Stride APS, Restigen PRP and CenTrate BMA, a range of devices designed to help address injuries common in horses that may cause lameness. These stall-side devices offer stall-side processing of the horses’ blood or bone marrow to manage joint and soft tissue ailments. (PRNewswire)
• The FDA announced a supplemental approval for the use of Zoetis‘ Ketofen (ketoprofen) in cattle for the control of pyrexia associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD). (FDA)
• The FDA announced a supplemental approval for the use of Zoetis‘ Simparica (sarolaner) for the prevention of Borrelia burgdorferi infections as a direct result of killing Ixodes scapularis vector ticks in dogs. (FDA)
• IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. announced the acquisition of ezyVet, a fast-growing, innovative practice information management system (PIMS).  The acquisition also includes Vet Radar, an innovative mobile-responsive electronic treatment sheet and whiteboarding solution. Financial terms were not disclosed. (company press release)
• A cyberattack on JBS SA, the largest meat producer globally, forced the shutdown of all its U.S. beef plants, wiping out output from facilities that supply almost a quarter of American supplies. JBS suspended its North American and Australian computer systems on Sunday after an organized assault on some of its servers. All of the company’s fed-beef and regional beef plants in the U.S. were forced to shutter, and all other JBS meatpacking facilities in the country experienced some level of disruption to operations. JBS is the No. 1 beef producer in the U.S., accounting for 23% of the nation’s maximum capacity; and accounts for roughly a fifth of pork capacity. (Bloomberg.com)
• Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. announced the expansion of Jiminy’s, which offers a full line of sustainable insect-based dog foods and treats, that will bring the eco-friendly nutrition offering to roughly 800 Petco pet care centers and petco.com. (company press release)
• Bond Vet announced the launch of a new product line that includes an Ear Flush, Paw Balm, Pet Immunity, Healthy Joints, Disinfecting Wipes and Clean Teeth. The products are available in all Bond Vet clinics as well as on Bond Vet’s online shop. (Pet Age)
• Basepaws announced the launch of Basepaws Cat Dental Health Test, an at-home preventative dental test for cats. The test is designed to indicate if a cat is developing dental issues based on the state of their oral microbiome using a gum swab. (IHS Markit Connect)
• Zivo Bioscience announced it will begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market; Zivo was previously listed on the OTCQB exchange. The company is developing nutritional products derived from proprietary algal cultures. It is targeting poultry coccidiosis, bovine mastitis, human cholesterol and rheumatoid arthritis. The shares are being priced at $5 each. (IHS Markit Connect)
• LexaGene Holdings, Inc. announced it has partnered with Ethos Discovery to expand the test menu offerings that can be run on LexaGene’s MiQLab System. Following LexaGene’s first validated panel – the MiQLab Bacterial and AMR Test for aiding in the diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTI) – the partners are prioritizing the development of panels specific for severe pneumonia, diarrhea, and effusions. (Streetinsider.com)
• Genvax Technologies, a new startup created by the founders of Harrisvaccines, has joined a nanovaccine consortium organized by Iowa State University. Genvax is developing mRNA and nanoparticle vaccines for livestock. (IHS Markit Connect)
• Vetstream and the International Veterinary Student Association (IVSA) announced a collaborative partnership to provide IVSA members and their universities access to the peer reviewed clinical content relating to the veterinary care of dogs cats, rabbits, exotics as well as horses and cattle to the veterinary schools or to the individual students on preferential terms that depend on the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)’s economically based tiered structure of countries. (company press release)
• ITALY Vetoquinol announced the global launch in Italy of Phovia, a new in-clinic, noninvasive light application that accelerates skin regeneration to help manage skin infections wound management. The Phovia system uses a unique chromophore gel, applied to the skin that, when activated by the blue LED light from the associated lamp, release polychromatic Fluorescent Light Energy (FLE)at multiple wavelengths. The first wave of launches also includes Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain and Portugal) in June. (Marketscreener.com)
• FRANCE Novidia Veterinary announced the French exclusive distribution for HorStem equine stem cells. According to the company, HorStem is one of the only two registered stem cells in Europe to treat lameness associated with mild to moderate degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) in horses. (company press release)
• EU Cargill and the Zero Emission Livestock Project (ZELP) announced a partnership to tackle methane emissions in dairy farming. ZELP has developed a cattle wearable that neutralizes some of the methane exhaled by cows; Cargill will be the exclusive distributor of the technology in the European dairy market. The companies expect to launch the ZELP wearable in the second half of 2022. (IHS Markit Connect)
• EU Mubadala, an Abu Dhabi wealth fund, has reportedly invested around $496 million in IVC Evidensia – Europe’s leading veterinary care company. IVC Evidensia runs a wide network of over 1,500 veterinary hospitals and clinics in nearly 12 nations across Europe. (Getnewsalert.com)

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ANIMAL HEALTH STOCK PRICE TRACKER

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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS

• US – MUMS GRANTS The FDA announced an open period for applications for grants to support the development and approval or conditional approval of new animal drugs intended to treat uncommon diseases (minor uses) in major species (horses, dogs, cats, cattle, pigs, turkeys and chickens) or to treat minor species (MUMS).  The maximum individual award amount is $250,000 each, for up to two years for routine studies and up to three years for toxicology studies. Only animal drug sponsors with Designated MUMS animal drugs or their research partners are eligible to apply. Click here for more information. (FDA)
• US – FELINE TOOLKIT The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) has released an online End of Life Educational Toolkit to provide information to help facilitate a peaceful and painless transition for a cat at the end of their life. The End of Life Toolkit addresses several key aspects of the euthanasia process, such as early Quality of Life discussion, decision making, the euthanasia experience for both veterinary professionals and caregivers, the euthanasia process, and how to support a client through final arrangements and beyond. (association press release)
• WORLD – VACCINE RESEARCH Researchers at the University of York and the Wellcome Sanger Institute have identified a promising vaccine candidate for Nagana, a parasitic disease caused by trypanosomes that causes a chronic elicits sterile immunity to T. vivax, one of the trypanosome parasites responsible for Nagana. (AVMA SmartBrief – Medicalxpress.com)
• US – HEARTWORM RESEARCH Researchers at Auburn University have developed a novel breath test for noninvasive diagnosis of heartworm disease in dogs.  The test uses a chemical fingerprint found in dogs’ breath do determine if a dog is infected with heartworms.  The research team has received funding from the university to establish the reliability of the test in dogs of different breeds and other variables. (JAVMA)

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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT

This last month my family reunited in North Carolina, the first time we had all been together in over a year. It was wonderful- yet sad- as we realized what the pandemic had done to us as a family. The most glaring evidence was that we had not seen our youngest granddaughter since the week she was born. I don’t know about you but Zoom just doesn’t cut it… I’m sure many of you have similar stories, and may have even lost loved ones. My sympathies to all of us.

While in North Carolina,  we experienced something I had not seen since 1980: gas shortages and lines at gas stations. I thought we would never see this again in my lifetime. We told our children and grandchildren about those days and they stared at us in disbelief.  When our vehicle was starting to get pretty low on fuel, my son-in-law found a station open at 4am that had just received a supply and off we went to fill up. Let’s hope that the wake-up call to refocus on energy independence resonates all the way to D.C.

And for the animal agriculture world, the cyberattacks just reportedly targeted JBS , the world’s largest protein supplier. And simultaneously, there was a US court ruling recently that requires hog processors operating under NSIS (25% of total capacity) should prepare to revert (slow down) their line speed, reducing slaughter capacity by 20-25%.

So in the near future your trip to COSTCO could be quite long and requiring strategic planning- to fill your gas tank and your freezer!

Paul Casady
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YOUR VIEW

In last week’s question we asked what would be the first thing your dog would buy, if they were able to shop online?  Our poll found that a bag of treats was the #1 answer, with 45% of you saying that’s what your dog would order. 24% would choose a new toy, and 17% would buy themselves a playmate.

This week

With YTD housing prices up 19% for existing homes, fuel costs up nearly 50%, used cars and trucks prices up 21%, there is obviously growing concern over inflation.

What effect do you feel that rising inflation may have on the animal health business?