Animal Health News & Notes for April 6, 2018

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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for April 6, 2018
Copyright © Brakke Consulting, Inc.

Editor: Lynn Fondon DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:

Brakke Consulting news
Market research

earnings news
Cal-Maine Foods

other news
Ainsworth Pet Nutrition
Boehringer Ingelheim
Bramton Company
BrightPet Nutrition Group
Celltrust Animal Therapeutic
Charleston Veterinary Referral Center
Compassion-First Pet Hospitals
Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center
Datamars SA
ECO Animal Health
ECO-Pharm Ltd.
FERA Animal Health
Five Rivers Cattle Feeding
Hero Pet Brands
JBS USA
J. M. Smucker
Luitpold
Merial
Pharmgate
Phoebe Products
Simcro

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BRAKKE CONSULTING, INC.
MARKET RESEARCH SERVICES

Look Before you Leap

Depend on Brakke Consulting to meet your company’s market research needs, whether it is:

• Assessing the feasibility of a new product or technology
• Identifying the opinions and trends of veterinarians, pet owners or producers
• Determining the current market for products

With our in-house database of veterinarians and the ability to custom-tailor surveys of a wide variety of target audiences, we provide reliable insights into this unique industry. We also produce multi-client reports in a number of high-interest animal health market areas. For more information, see our website or call our Dallas office at 972-243-4033.

www.BrakkeConsulting.com

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COMPANY EARNINGS RELEASES

• Cal-Maine Foods Inc. reported results for the third quarter ended March 3, 2018. Net sales were $436 million, a 42% increase compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2017. The company reported net income of $96.3 million compared to $4.1 million for the third quarter of 2017. (Feedstuffs)

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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES

• Boehringer Ingelheim announced that the FDA has approved Merial’s Centragard for the prevention of heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis and for the treatment and control of roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms in cats and kittens. (Animal Pharm)

• Luitpold Animal Health announced Adequan Canine rejoins its portfolio of FDA-approved joint health products. Supply and distribution should remain uninterrupted during this transition. (company press release)

• FERA Animal Health announced it has changed its name to FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals to reflect the company’s growth and future developments. (company press release)

• The Riverside Co. announced the sale of platform company Simcro Ltd. of New Zealand to Swedish medical equipment manufacturer Datamars SA. Riverside acquired Simcro in 2013. Financial terms were not disclosed. (Crainscleveland.com)

• The J. M. Smucker Company announced a definitive agreement to acquire Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, LLC for approximately $1.7 billion, after an estimated tax benefit of $200 million. The transaction is expected to close early in Smucker’s fiscal year beginning May 1, 2018. (Petfoodindustry.com)

• BrightPet Nutrition Group announced it has acquired all of the assets of Phoebe Products, which include the SO Bright brand. Phoebe is a manufacturer of premium and super-premium pet treats. Financial terms were not disclosed. (Petfood Industry)

• The Bramton Company, a manufacturer and distributor of pet care products, has formally changed its corporate name to Hero Pet Brands. (GlobalPETS)

• Compassion-First Pet Hospitals announced the addition of Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center (DVSC) and Charleston Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC) of Charleston, South Carolina to its growing family of hospitals; bringing the total number of hospitals to 37. Financial terms were not disclosed. (company press release)

• Pinnacle Asset Management, L.P. announced the acquisition of JBS USA’s Five Rivers Cattle Feeding was completed on March 16 for approximately $200 million. Five Rivers, the world’s largest cattle feeder, will continue to supply cattle to JBS USA beef processing plants as part of a long-term agreement. (Vet Advantage – Drovers)

• IRELAND ECO Animal Health Group PLC announced that its subsidiary ECO Animal Health Ltd and US-based Pharmgate LLC have formed a new joint venture based in the Republic of Ireland, to be known as ECO-Pharm Ltd. The new joint venture will register, market, sell and distribute a number of Pharmgate swine vaccine products in the UK, European Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States, with a number of other region to operate in currently under review. (Alliance news)

• JAPAN Celltrust Animal Therapeutic announced it has begun supplying canine stem cells to veterinarians in Japan for the treatment of dry eye (or keratoconjunctivitis sicca). (Animal Pharm, asia.nikkei.com)

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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS

• US – DRUG APPROVALS Beginning on May 23, 2018, the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) will host a three-part webinar series to provide information the FDA Electronic Submission Gateway (ESG) and CVM Electronic Submission System (ESS) registration processes as well as to provide information on how to use the eSubmitter tool. The purpose of these webinars is to support the use of eSubmitter in the new animal drug application approval process as the CVM moves to 100% electronic submission on October 1, 2018. Details can be found at https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm603386.htm?utm_campaign=4-3-2018-esubmitter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua. (FDA)

• JAPAN – TRANSFUSION RESEARCH Research led by a professor at Chuo University has produced artificial blood to be used for transfusions in cats using a dry serum albumin powder. The university research group undertook this work as part of a collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. (Animal Pharm)

• US – VACCINE RESEARCH Researchers at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine have been granted a patent covering vaccine technology for a non-antibiotic treatment of beef cattle liver infections. The researchers identified a protein and created compositions and methods to use the protein to prevent the attachment of Fusobacterium to the cells in the rumen and liver. (Animal Pharm)

• US – VETERINARY INITIATIVES A Veterinary Futures Commission has been established by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). Comprised of thought-leaders from academia, industry, professional practice and other officials, the group will evaluate challenges and opportunities within the veterinary profession, identify priorities guided by societal needs, and develop evidence-based recommendations regarding potential courses of action. (Bovinevetonline)

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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT

The announcement this week from J. M. Smucker Company demonstrates the continued interest in the pet nutrition market area by companies that are major players in consumer food markets. A few weeks ago General Mills announced their intentions to purchase the rapidly growing Blue Buffalo brand of pet foods. These companies understand the increasing importance of pets as part of the family and the opportunity to participate in this growing market category. It is likely that we’ll see additional companies with deep consumer insights entering the animal health markets in the coming months and years. The animal health market offers investors and companies growth rate opportunities not available in many other markets.

Have a good weekend!

Ron Brakke

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