FDA Warns About Compounded Use Of Deslorelin Now That SucroMate Equine Is ApprovedFebruary 9, 2011 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent a letter to veterinarians today reminding them that now SucroMate Equine is approved and available for veterinary use in the United States, deslorelin should not be imported from other countries or compounded from bulk. SucroMate Equine is the only marketed FDA-approved animal drug that contains deslorelin as the active ingredient. The drug, manufactured by Thorn BioScience, was approved in November 2010 as a way to regulate ovulation in mares. The injectable, sustained-release suspension is said to increase the likelihood of conception during breeding for both natural bred and artificially inseminated horses. The suspension comes in a 10 mL vial that can be used for 10 doses. The strength is 1.8 mg deslorelin acetate per mL. The FDA’s letter to veterinarians outlines its “rigorous” drug evaluation process. It also emphasizes that animal drugs compounded from bulk do not go through this process. “An animal drug that is compounded from bulk drug ingredients is not FDA-approved,” the FDA said in its letter. “This means FDA has not evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the compounded drug or the adequacy of the manufacturing process. “In prescribing FDA-approved SucroMate Equine …
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New Website Maps Emerging Zoonotic DiseasesFebruary 8, 2011 A new website has launched to help governments and health agencies track emerging infectious diseases across the world. HealthMap.org/Predict delivers real-time information from a number of sources “to give users in more than 20 countries a comprehensive view on the current global state of infectious diseases and their effects on human and animal health.” The website launch was announced at this week’s International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance in Vienna, Austria. The website is a component of the Predict project, which was created in 2009 as part of the United States Agency for International Development’s Emerging Pandemics Threats Program. The project’s main focus is building a global early warning system for emerging diseases that move between wildlife and people. Such zoonotic diseases include influenza, ebola and severe acute respiratory syndrome, also known as SARS. The project is implemented by the University of California, Davis; the Wildlife Conservation Society; EcoHealth Alliance; Global Viral Forecasting Initiative; and the Smithsonian Institution. Additional partners include Harvard Children’s Hospital, ProMED, Yale University and Praecipio. The website uses the HealthMap platform to bring together a number of data sources—more than 50,000 Web sources an hour—into a …
VCS Salutes Oncology Icon WithrowFebruary 7, 2011 The Veterinary Cancer Society’s 2010 Theilen Tribute Award honored Steve Withrow, DVM, of Colorado State University for lifetime achievement in veterinary oncology. The award recognizes the visionary “One Medicine” career of Gordon H. Theilen, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (oncology). Dr. Theilen is one of veterinary oncology’s most prolific and internationally appreciated forefathers. He contributed diverse pivotal research in cancer virology, initiated the first veterinary clinical oncology service, was a founding member and first president of the VCS in 1976 and contributed the first reference textbooks, Veterinary Cancer Medicine, 1979 and 1987. Dr. Theilen created the Comparative Cancer Center, which evolved into the Center for Companion Animal Health at the University of California, Davis. He mentored many researchers and the first generation of veterinary oncologists, who became leaders in their respective fields, touching millions of lives worldwide. The VCS’s first Theilen Tribute Award in 2009 honored Dr. Greg MacEwen posthumously. Dr. Withrow, Dipl. ACVS, Dipl. ACVIM (oncology), was selected as the second recipient, to be honored during the VCS meeting in San Diego in October. The winner’s name was kept a surprise. VCS host Dr. Greg Ogilvie invited Dr. Withrow to be a keynote speaker, which …
Vetsulin Critical Need Program DiscontinuedFebruary 7, 2011 Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health reported today that it is discontinuing the Vetsulin Critical Need Program and will no longer provide Vetsulin (porcine insulin zinc suspension) after the current supply is exhausted, which is expected to be the end of February. The discontinuation is being initiated based on quality tests that showed that the sterility of the most recent batch of Vetsulin, a product used to treat diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats, may be compromised by bacterial contamination. The batch has not been released from the manufacturing facility, according to Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc. of Whitehouse Station, N.J. The company further noted that they are aware of no evidence that the Vetsulin currently on the market and being used under the program is affected. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which sent out a notice late Friday announcing the anticipated shortage, confirmed that statement. No adverse events consistent with bacterial infection in dogs and cats receiving Vetsulin under the current program have been reported, according to the agency. The Vetsulin Critical Need Program was launched in May 2010, intended for a critical need dog or cat that, in the medical …
Companion Animal Vets See Salary Increase; Equine Hit With LossesFebruary 4, 2011 A new study shows that the average salary for private practice veterinarians increased from $115,447 in 2007 to $121,303 in 2009. The figures are based on the 2011 American Veterinary Medical Association Report on Veterinary Compensation, which is published every two years. The private practice salary boost is largely due to the fact that companion animal exclusive veterinarians saw salary increases from $113,373 in 2007 to $124,768 in 2009, according to the AVMA study. However, other private practice sectors—mixed animal, companion animal predominant and equine—faced salary decreases. The AVMA attributed the decline to the recession. Specifically, mixed animal veterinarians saw the average salary drop from $117,201 in 2007 to $107,064 in 2009, companion animal predominant from $120,462 to $117,524 and equine from $131,195 to $126,641. Food animal exclusive veterinarians also saw a dip in pay, from $139,612 in 2007 to $131,479 in 2009, but they are still the highest paid veterinarians working in private practice, according to the AVMA study. All veterinarians working in public and corporate positions experienced salary increases between 2007 and 2009, according to the study. The top earning veterinarians in 2009 worked in industry, on average earning $167,415. …
Abaxis Vet Sales Increase 10% In Q3February 3, 2011Abaxis Inc. reported veterinary market sales of $26.3 million for its third quarter ended Dec. 31, compared to sales of $23.9 million in the year-ago period. This represents a 10 percent increase. Year to date, veterinary market sales were $79.8 million, compared to sales of $67.4 million in the year-ago period. Overall, Abaxis reported net income of $3.8 million on revenue of $35.9 million for its third quarter, compared to net income of $3.4 million on revenue of $31 million in the year ago period. Medical and veterinary instrument sales increased 10 percent to $9.3 million for the quarter, while medical and veterinary reagent disc sales increased 20 percent to $19.5 million for the quarter, according to the Union City, Calif.-based company. Year to date, Abaxis reported net income of $11.2 million on revenue of $106.1 million, compared to net income of $10.4 million on revenue of $90.9 million in the year-ago period. <Home>
Eli Lilly’s Animal Division Reports 20% Q4 IncreaseFebruary 3, 2011 Eli Lilly and Co.’s animal health division reported revenue of $424.3 million for its fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, up 20 percent compared to revenue of $353.1 million in the year-ago period. U.S. sales grew 25 percent to $234.5 million, due to increased demand, according to the Indianapolis-based company. Sales outside the U.S. increased 15 percent to $189.8 million, driven by increased demand and the impact of a recent acquisition, the company reported. Year to date, the division reported revenue of $1.4 billion, compared to revenue of $1.2 percent in the year-ago period. Animal health sales in the U.S. and outside the U.S. increased 15 percent to $775.1 million and $616.3 million, respectively, driven primarily by increased demand, according to the company. Overall, Eli Lilly and Co. reported net income of $1.2 billion on revenue of $6.2 billion for its fourth quarter, compared to net income of $915.4 million on revenue of $5.9 billion in the year-ago period. Year to date, the company reported net income of $5.1 billion on revenue of $23.1 billion, compared to net income of $4.3 billion on revenue of $23.8 billion in the year-ago period. <Home> …
Idexx Reports Positive Q4 SalesFebruary 3, 2011 Idexx Laboratories Inc.’s companion animal division reported revenue of $229 million for its fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, compared to revenue of $217.9 million in the year-ago period. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates reduced revenue growth by less than 1 percent, according to the Westbrook, Maine-based company. Organic growth of 6 percent was due primarily to increased sales volume sales prices in the laboratory and consulting services business and increased sales volumes of Idexx VetLab instruments and consumables, according to Idexx. The increase in instruments sales volume was driven primarily by sales of ProCyte Dx, the new hematology analyzer the company introduced in the third quarter of 2010, Idexx noted. “Market response to our ProCyte Dx hematology analyzer, launched in the third quarter, has been very positive,” said Jonathan Ayers, chairman and CEO of Idexx Laboratories. “The 449 units that we placed in the third and fourth quarters exceeded our expectations.” Year to date, the companion animal division reported revenue of $905.7 million, compared to revenue of $843.3 million in the year-ago period. Overall, Idexx Laboratories reported net income $36.4 million on revenue of $283.8 million for its fourth quarter, compared to …
MWI Veterinary Supply’s Q1 Sees 55% IncreaseFebruary 3, 2011 MWI Veterinary Supply Inc. reported net income of $10.8 million on revenue of $366.2 million for its first quarter ended Dec. 31, compared to net income of $7.8 million on revenue of $236.1 million in the year-ago period. Of the 55.1 percent increase in total revenue, 28.6 percent was due to organic growth in the United States and 26.5 percent was related to the company’s acquisition of Centaur Services Ltd. in February 2010. Internet sales to independent veterinary practices and producers in the United States grew by about 57 percent for the quarter compared to the year-ago period, according to MWI Veterinary Supply. Product sales from the Internet as a percentage of sales in the United States improved to 34 percent for the quarter, compared to 32 percent in the year-ago period, according to the company. MWI Veterinary Supply added its sixth veterinary pharmacy in Whitestown, Ind., in January. The company now has pharmacies in six of its 12 distribution centers. Revenue from MWI Veterinary Supply’s veterinary pharmacy programs increased more than 60 percent to $33 million for its first quarter, the company reported. MWI Veterinary Supply estimates that for the fiscal year …
New ‘Zoobiquity’ Initiative, Conference Cross DisciplinesFebruary 2, 2011 A new project, the Zoobiquity Research Initiative, was launched last week in an effort to help University of California Davis veterinary students and University of California Los Angeles medical students work together on projects that affect both animal and human health. Areas of topics will include obesity, geriatrics and environmental toxic exposure. The initiative was launched at the similarly named new conference, Zoobiquity, which was organized by the U.C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine; the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens; and the One Health Center of the U.C. Global Health Institute. The conference was attended by more than 200 veterinarians and human physicians to better understand the global and species-spanning nature of illness. The conference was also designed to help forge ways that both veterinary and human medical fields can work together to further medicine, science and research. “The Zoobiquity conference and the initiative focus on the many similarities, both genetic and physiological, between species, which are vast and often underappreciated,” said Patricia Conrad, DVM, Ph.D., co-director of the U.C. Global Health Institute’s One Health Center and a professor of parasitology at the U.C. Davis School of …
