Animal Health News & Notes for October 6, 2023

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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for October 6, 2023
Copyright © Brakke Consulting
Editor: Lynn Fondon DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:
Brakke Consulting News
Pet Medications Home Delivery Study – pre-order now

Other News
Ardent Animal Health
Athersys
Cal-Maine Foods
Carnibest
Covetrus
Digitalis Ventures
Elanco
Ever.Ag
Fassio Egg Farms
Fluxergy
ITL BioMedical
Lumen Bioscience
Mars (SYNLAB)
Mars (Companion Fund)
Parnell Technologies
Patterson
PHAXIAM Therapeutics
Qorvo Biotechnologies
Small Door Vet
SYNLAB Vet
Vetcor
Veterinary Emergency Group
Vetophage
Voff
Zomedica

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Brakke Consulting
Pet Medications Home Delivery Study
Pre-order now and save

Optimizing Pet Medicine Services: Key Insights into Home Delivery Channel
Discover critical insights for pet medicine businesses and veterinarians. Based on surveys of veterinarians and pet owners, as well as other primary research, the new Brakke Pet Medications Home Delivery Study will unveil current pet owner behaviors, emerging veterinary business trends, and the impact of online retailers on pet medication home delivery.

Leverage this knowledge to refine services, enhance customer experiences, and manage competitive challenges effectively. The proprietary research in this groundbreaking study will allow businesses to stay at the forefront of the evolving pet healthcare industry with current industry-backed data. Your success is our priority.

The report, which will be published at the end of 2023, is priced at $14,500. Pre-order by November 15 to receive a $2,000 discount.  For more information, contact Richard Hayworth at rhayworth@brakkeconsulting.com or 214.422.2025.

www.BrakkeConsulting.com

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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES

• Elanco Animal Health Incorporated announced that the Board of Directors has commenced a process to amend the Company’s corporate governing documents as part of a comprehensive governance review. The Board expects to seek shareholder approval at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for amendments to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation that will: commence a process to declassify the Board of Directors; allow shareholders to amend the Company’s Bylaws; and allow shareholders under certain circumstances to call special meetings of shareholders. (company press release)
• Mars, Incorporated announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of the assets of SYNLAB Vet from SYNLAB Group. SYNLAB Vet is now part of Mars Petcare’s Science & Diagnostics division. Financial terms were not disclosed. (com)
• Mars, Incorporated and Digitalis Ventures have announced the launch of Companion Fund II. This $300 million venture capital fund will back founders with companies that are leveraging breakthrough science, technology, and design to improve the lives of pets, pet owners and veterinarians. (com)
• The FDA announced it has approved Parnell Technologies Pty Ltd’s estroPLAN (generic cloprostenol) for use in lactating dairy cows. (FDA)
• Zomedica announced the acquisition of Qorvo Biotechnologies LLC, creators of the Omnia and TRUFORMA point of care diagnostic platforms, from Qorvo US, Inc. Financial terms were not disclosed. (Seekingalpha)
• Covetrus announced the signing of a multi-year strategic alignment with Vetcor that builds upon the established relationship between the two companies, designating Covetrus as the primary partner for in-clinic veterinary products to Vetcor, a collaborative network of more than 840 locations in the US and Canada. (PRnewswire)
• Patterson Veterinary Supply announced the launch of Auto DX Alerts, a new application that automatically sends test results to veterinary clients, letting them know their pet’s fecal or heartworm came back negative. Veterinarians are able to customize a text message that will only send to pet owners if the system pulls a negative result. (company press release)
• ITL BioMedical announced the expansion of its animal health product line with the launch of PawCheck, a range of urine collection tools for companion animals. The product line includes PawCheck P-Scoop for canine urine collection for smaller dog breeds; PawCheck P-Scoop Plus for larger male dogs; and PawCheck Cat Litter. (EINnews)
• Fluxergy announced that it has released its latest rapid PCR assay Streptococcus equi ss equi to detect the SeM/eqbE gene from an equine nasal swab sample. This assay for Fluxergy’s in-house PCR platform provides an in-house method to provide results within 60 minutes in a veterinary hospital lab setting. (Equimanagement)
• Lumen Bioscience is using genetically engineered spirulina algae to make lysin, an enzyme that reduces the microorganisms in the bovine digestive system that produce methane without harming beneficial bacteria or ending up in milk or meat. (AVMA SmartBrief – Fast Company)
• Ag introduced Maternity Warden, an system that uses cameras and on-site edge nodes with AI models to provide 24/7 monitoring of calving cows for the earliest signs of calving. Maternity Warden aims to reduce stillborn rates and calving issues on freestall dairy farms. (Feedstuffs)
• Athersys, Inc. announced the signing of a licensing agreement with Ardent Animal Health for its Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cell technology for equine, canine, and feline health applications. Athersys has also granted Ardent rights of first refusal to be the exclusive distributor for Athersys’ novel cryogenic storage system, the Secure Integrated Freezer Unit (SIFU), in the US animal health space. (Businesswire)
• Small Door Vet is reportedly working with Lincoln International on strategic options, including a possible sale. The company, which is not yet profitable, is being marketed on $70 million in pro-forma revenue. (Axios)
• Veterinary Emergency Group announced the launch of its VEG Blood Bank program and is currently accepting dog donors at its local hospitals in the Washington, D.C., and Boston areas. The blood collected will be stored to be used at VEG or by local veterinary clinics. The program plans to expand nationally, with blood banks being brought to Philadelphia and Tampa next. (Vet Advantage – DVM360)
• Cal-Maine Foods announced a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all the assets of Fassio Egg Farms Inc., related to its commercial shell egg production and processing business. Financial terms were not disclosed. (Feedstuffs)
• NETHERLANDS Voff announced the acquisition of Carnibest, a Dutch manufacturer of natural raw dog and cat food operating in the Netherlands and Belgium. Financial terms were not disclosed. (GlobalPets)
• EU PHAXIAM Therapeutics and Vetophage announced the signing of a long-term strategic research partnership to combine their expertise in the research of new phages and phage-derived proteins (endolysins) in the fight against antimicrobial resistance in animals. (Globenewswire)

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K-STATE OLATHE
Professional Development and Academic Webinars 

Artificial Intelligence in Animal Health: What is it and What Does the Future Hold?

November 2, 1:00-5:00 p.m. CDT

Join the growing discussion on artificial intelligence and how different tools impact research and development. Our speakers will cover the topic of why some technologies have failed and what future development may look like. This is a seminar to get the conversation started and learn from each other on this up-and-coming area of the animal health industry. Register today! 

Free lunchtime webinars:

Animal Health Regulatory Affairs Graduate Certificate, Oct. 11, 12:00 p.m. CDT

Gain the knowledge that will open doors for your career in animal health! K-State Olathe’s 15 credit hour Regulatory Affairs graduate certificate, which is fully online, is based on industry input and exclusively tailored to the animal health industry. It provides a series of courses and experiences that will help equip animal health professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate governmental processes and regulations. Register today!

M.S. in Veterinary Biomedical Science | Oct. 11 at 12:30 p.m. CDT

Ready to advance your career in animal health? Join K-State Olathe for a free, lunchtime webinar about its M.S. in Veterinary Biomedical Science. With an animal health track, it will give you the scientific knowledge and professional skills needed to lead in this growing industry. Register today!

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ANIMAL HEALTH STOCK PRICE TRACKER 

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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS

• US – POULTRY IMPORTS Effective October 1, 2023, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is placing restrictions on the importation of poultry from France, as well as live ducks, duck eggs, and unmitigated/untreated duck products from the APHIS-recognized European Poultry Trade Region (EPTR, excluding Great Britain) as well as Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. These restrictions are the result of France’s decision to vaccinate commercial meat ducks against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI); the USDA believes that France’s decision to vaccinate against HPAI presents a risk of introducing HPAI into the US. (com)
• US – GENERICS REGULATION The Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2023 were signed into law as part of H.R. 5860 in September. The amendments reauthorize the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) and the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act (AGDUFA) programs administered by the FDA until 2028. (FDA)
• US – RABIES TREATMENT New research has demonstrated that a monoclonal antibody derived from a lyssavirus carried by bats protected lab mice from a fatal dose of rabies virus. This antibody is too big to enter infected cells in the nervous system itself and instead appears to prime the immune system to produce small immune cells that destroy the virus in the brain and spinal cord, and a single dose reversed advanced rabies infections. The research was published online Sept. 28 in EMBO Molecular Medicine. (AVMA SmartBrief – HealthDay)
• US – PESTICIDES The EPA announced a decision not to ban the pesticide tetrachlorovenphos (TCVP) used in pet flea collars and other flea products. (Beyond Pesticides)
• US – FELINE GUIDELINES The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), the trusted leader in feline health and wellbeing for the veterinary community and cat caregivers, and The International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) have announced the release of the 2023 AAFP/IAAHPC Feline Hospice and Palliative Care Guidelines. Accompanying the Guidelines are several supplemental materials which include a new educational brochure for cat caregivers, video, and a hospice and palliative care patient questionnaire. The Guidelines development was supported by an educational grant to the AAFP from Royal Canin. (association press release)

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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
This week, we announced our upcoming new report on Pet Medications Home Delivery.  There’s a lot of activity in the space – both veterinary home delivery and retail-to-consumer – and it’s important to realize the benefits of this service brings to overall pet health.

Veterinarians play a crucial role in promoting home delivery services for pet medications. This convenience-driven approach simplifies pet care for owners, ensuring timely medication refills, and boosting compliance. By advocating for these services, veterinarians empower pet owners to prioritize their pets’ health, while fostering trust and loyalty, as clients appreciate the added convenience.  In short, promoting home delivery aligns with today’s digital age expectations. It positions your practice as forward-thinking and client-centric.

Home delivery of pet medications can enhance care, convenience and compliance. In an era where convenience matters, endorsing home delivery is not only beneficial for pets, it can also help strengthens the bond between veterinarians and their clients.

Richard Hayworth
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YOUR VIEW
Last week we asked current job satisfaction. Considering current economic factors including inflation, and decreased discretionary spending for consumers, it’s not surprising to see majority of folks, 54%, are “planning to stay with current employer for foreseeable future”. This is followed by 30% who are “considering leaving in 1-3 years;” and 16% who are “actively looking for a new position now”.

This week:
This week’s question measures shopping habits for pet medications (products requiring a prescription for purchase).

When purchasing pet medications, which of the following scenarios best describes you?