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Brakke Consulting's
Animal Health News & Notes for September 24, 2010
Copyright © Brakke Consulting, Inc.
Editor: Lynn Fondon, DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:
Brakke news
recruiting
History of the Animal Health Industry
earnings news
Neogen
other news
Alltech
Animal Health International
Dechra
Intervet/Schering-Plough
Martek Biosciences
Modern Veterinary Therapeutics
Professional Veterinary Products
Pulse Veterinary Technologies
Veterinary Products Laboratories
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COMPANY EARNINGS RELEASES
> Neogen Corporation announced that its net income for the first quarter of FY 2011, which
ended Aug. 31, increased 33% to $5.8 million. First quarter revenues also increased 33% from
the previous year to $43 million. About half the increase is attributable to the addition of the
BioKits and GeneSeek product lines. Neogen’s Animal Safety Division led the company’s first
quarter revenue increase, with sales up 39% to $21 million in FY 2011. (company press release)
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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES
> Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health announced the approval of Nobivac Lepto4, the first
and only four-way canine leptospirosis vaccine to be approved for protecting dogs against
mortality. Nobivac Lepto4 was also shown to prevent clinical disease. The vaccine is indicated to
protect dogs from L. canicola, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. pomona and L. grippotyphosa, and is
available as a standalone or as a combination vaccine. (Veterinary Practice News)
> Veterinary Products Laboratories (VPL) introduced five new sutures in 30 inch lengths to its
Ny-Sta and Pro-Sta non-absorbable monofilament lines. (company press release)
> Modern Veterinary Therapeutics announced the launch of Respit, a regionally specific
immunotherapy for dogs and cats that does not require allergy testing. Respit is available only
by prescription through a veterinarian, but the weekly injectable treatments can be administered
by the pet owner. (company press release)
> Animal Health International, Inc. announced that the company hired 23 experienced sales
professionals from Professional Veterinary Products, Ltd. ("PVP"), and opened a customer
sales and service center in Omaha, Nebraska. In addition, the Company acquired certain
strategic assets, including customer lists, from PVP, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection on August 20, 2010. (Globe Newswire)
> Alltech announced that it has entered into an agreement with supplement maker Martek
Biosciences Corporation to acquire a significant portion of the assets at Martek's Winchester, KY,
manufacturing site. The assets to be sold include a majority of the land and buildings at the
Winchester site as well as certain equipment therein, including all of the production-scale
fermentation and recovery equipment. Under the terms of the sale agreement, Alltech will pay
Martek a total of approximately $14 million over the next four years for the assets to be acquired.
(PRNewswire)
> Pulse Veterinary Technologies, LLC, announced the launch of its ProTec PRP Injectable
System, based on an exclusive license for the veterinary field from Cascade Medical Enterprises,
LLC. The license includes Cascade’s proprietary family of Platelet Rich Fibrin Matrix (PRFM)
products which PulseVet will target for the minimally-invasive management of musculoskeletal
disorders causing chronic pain and lameness in veterinary patients, primarily horses and dogs.
(Business Wire)
> UK Dechra Veterinary Products introduced two additional new products in the UK to its
Veterinary Essentials range, Alvegesic Vet (butorphanol) and Clavudale (amoxicillin potentiated
with clavulanic acid). (company website)
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BRAKKE CONSULTING, INC.
EXECUTIVE AND SALES FORCE RECRUITING
Since 1986 Brakke Consulting, Inc. has successfully assisted many clients in acquiring
exceptional employees at all levels, in the many departments of animal health, pet, veterinary and
specialty chemical companies. We pre-qualify candidates, allowing clients to choose from a few
of the best applicants for a position. Our approach increases the efficiency and effectiveness of
the Human Resources Departments of client companies.
For more information, go to www.BrakkeConsulting.com.
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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS
> TURKEY GENOME An international consortium of researchers has completed the majority of
the genome sequence of the domestic turkey, the third bird to have its genome sequenced. The
results were published in the September 7 edition of PLos Biology. (Feedstuffs)
> US - CANCER RESEARCH Veterinary researchers from Cornell University's College of
Veterinary Medicine have discovered a molecule that is capable of blocking cancer cells from
using glutamine, an amino acid that cancerous cells need to grow. Dubbed 968 by the
researchers, the molecule binds to the enzyme glutaminase and blocks the cancer cell's use of
the nutrient. 968 was able to shrink tumor cell size in mice. (DVM360)
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BRAKKE CONSULTING, INC.
LOOKING FOR HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS?
Copies of Brakke Consulting's book chronicling the history of the US animal health industry are
still available! Reasonably priced at $35 per copy, these gift-quality books make great holiday
gifts for employees and clients.
For more information on The U.S. Animal Health Industry: Its pioneers and legacy of
innovation, visit the What's New section of our website at www.BrakkeConsulting.com or contact
Jane Morgan at jmorgan@brakkeconsulting.com
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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
You can tell it’s a slow week in the animal health news area when we have to have to fill the
space with ads for Brakke Consulting services. One area of news this week not covered in the
newsletter was the probability that corn will hit $5.00 per bushel and stay there until the 2011
crop. The USDA has continued to estimate the 2010 crop downward from prior estimates. The
expanding consumption of corn for ethanol with the reduced crop will have a negative impact on
the cost of producing animal protein for at least the next few months. This could have some
negative impact on the firms selling health products to producers. Couple higher costs of meat
production with an economy that cannot pick up speed and we could be in for another year of
slow growth.
I wanted to use the comments this week to thank all of you that have purchased our history book
on the US animal health industry. We’ve received many compliments on the quality and content
of the book. We still have a limited number of books left from the first printing. If you’re planning
on purchasing more books this fall for friends or employees gifts we’d encourage you do sooner
versus later.
Have a great weekend!!
Ron Brakke
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