This Week in Animal Health: Felines are a Bright Spot for Clinic Visits
Animal Health News and Notes · October 9, 2026
Editor: Christine Merle DVM, MBA, CVPM
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Earnings News
- ImmuCell released preliminary, unaudited sales results for the third quarter of 2026, highlighting total product sales increase of 46% to $8M versus prior year same period. (company press release)
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US Company News
- Merck Animal Health announced the publication of two peer-reviewed studies on gilvetmab, a caninized anti-programmed cell death protein 1(anti-PD-1) monoclonal antibody for dogs with spontaneous malignancies. (global-agriculture.com)
- Purina Institute celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Purina Life Span Study which connected the importance of lean body condition with an extended life span in dogs. (company press release)
- Virbac donated more than 29,000 doses of its’ IVERHART MAX Chews to every dog at KC Pet Project, the municipal animal shelter in Kansas City, Missouri. (company press release)
- HT VET’s Vista iQ, an artificial intelligence- powered non-invasive scanner, published peer-reviewed research on its ability to serve as a malignancy screening tool and identify specific tumor types. (todaysveterinarybusiness.com)
- United Animal Health named Brian Barker as President and CEO effective October 5, 2026. (porkbusiness.com)
- Tyson Foods’ settlement with commercial and institutional indirect purchaser plaintiffs for class action lawsuits concerning beef and pork price-fixing received final settlement approval by the US District Court for the District of Minnesota. (feedstuffs.com)
- Neion Bio, a company that programs hens to express recombinant proteins in their eggs, has partnered with Barnwell Bio to use its avian biosurveillance technology, tracking the health and environment of Neion’s flocks of birds. (synbiobeta.com)
- VMD Sciences unveiled its new international portal, VMG Access International, at WSAVA World Congress. The portal is designed to support access to global animal health products through regulated import-export pathways. (company press release)
- The Bridge Club announced Susie Crockett, BS, CVPM as the 2027 Bridge Club ICON honoree. (association press release)
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Brakke Consulting News
Now Hiring! We seek a sales leader with a book of business selling to veterinary hospitals in GA and the southeast. Proximity to Atlanta and experience selling services preferred but not required. Our client offers a competitive compensation package with uncapped OTE. You’ll enjoy autonomy and spearhead an established company’s growth in the US, starting in the Southeast. If you can sell, we’d like to speak with you. Please contact Jeff Santosuosso at jeff@brakkeconsulting.com
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International Company News
- CA – Hill’s Pet Nutrition is providing pet parents with tips and tools to manage their pet’s weight as part of National Pet Obesity Awareness Month in Canada. (company press release)
- CA – Acadian Animal Wellness announced the global launch of Tasco optimized feed technology for use in animal feed products. Tasco is derived from Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed. (company press release)
- EU – Great Place to Work and Fortune Europe recognized Zoetis as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For- Europe 2026. (company press release)
- EU – The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended marketing authorization in the European Union for Intervet International BV’s (MSD Animal Health) Bovilis Lumpyvax, a vaccine to protect cattle against lumpy skin disease. (ema.europa.eu)
- EU – WLA Health and Care AG launched BIBO Pulmifier Equine, built on Aerogen’s vibrating mesh technology, providing an equine inhalation device with core technology that is used in human medicine. (company press release)
- JP – Genflow Biosciences received a Decision to Grant for its SIRT6 patent in Japan. (tradingview.com)
- UK – Krka UK launched Pet Shield Worm Screen Spot-on for cats. (vetsurgeon.org)
- UK – Kyrexa announced that its lead, oral cancer therapy, rimcazole has been granted two MUMS designations from the US FDA for first line medical treatment of canine oral melanoma and cutaneous or oral squamous cell carcinoma. (company press release)
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Animal Health Induustry News
- US – The University of Kentucky has launched an undergraduate and graduate certificate in One Health. (news.mgcafe.uky.edu)
- US – West Texas A& M University received a $9.75M grant from the USDA to fund a cattle feedlot research facility. (university press release)
- US – The USDA confirmed that two dairy herds in Washington State have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, the first cases of the virus in livestock in the state. (agdaily.com)
- US – Assembly Bill 1999 which updates California Veterinary Medicine Practice Act was signed into law by Governor Newsome and will take effect January 1, 2027. The law includes several changes including VCPR rules and licensing options. (dvm360.com)
- US – A new report from The CATalyst Council reports that feline clinical visit grew 2.7% over prior year in the third quarter of 2026. (council press release)
- US – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), a public historically Black college or university (HBCU), has received a Letter of Reasonable Assurance from the AVMA’s Council on Education, allowing them to move forward with recruiting and admitting an inaugural veterinary school class. (university press release)
- UK – A new report from The Guardian shows an 87% increase since 2021 in United Kingdom pets being poisoned by recreational drugs. (people.com)
- UK – A guide to help both small (1- 14 practices) and large Veterinary Businesses (15 or more) to comply with the Competition and Markets Authority Veterinary Services Market Investigation Order in the United Kingdom is now available (government press release)
- GB-SCT – Scotland’s Rural College’s Dairy Research Centre has designed farm-twin, an open-source Digital Twin platform designed specifically for dairy farms. (thecattlesite.com)
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Brakke Consulting Viewpoint
Eye-Watering Fuel Prices
It’s early Thursday, and I’m on the road to California for an event. This marks my first drive in my diesel Sprinter van since the beginning of summer. With the route planned and everything packed, I started looking at fuel prices to map out my stops.
That’s when the sticker shock hit.
Diesel is currently $5.96 per gallon locally. Curious about prices farther along my route, I checked the next state and found it hovering around $6.85 per gallon. Then I looked at California. Since I’ll be there for roughly ten days, a fill-up is inevitable. The price? An eye-watering $8.41 per gallon.
As painful as those numbers are, they’re not enough to keep me from making the trip. I may be a little more strategic about where I fuel up, but my plans remain unchanged. The truth is that rising fuel costs touch everyone. Whether fuel is a business expense or part of a hobby, increased energy costs eventually show up in the price of nearly everything we buy through higher production and transportation costs.
Chuck Johnson DVM, MBA
Senior Consultant
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Your View
Last week we asked about your crowdfunding investment experiences- only 20% of respondents have invested in a company using a crowdfunding platform , 60% would consider using a fully vetted crowdfunding platform and the remaining 20% would invest with a crowdfunding platform if they had personal experience in the disease category.
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