Velcera And FidoPharm Say An Appeal To Merial’s Claim ImminentJune 22, 2011 The United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia on Tuesday granted motions filed by Merial Limited and Merial SAS for contempt against Velcera and FidoPharm and their contract manufacturer for PetArmor Plus, Cipla Limited. The court stayed its order for 60 days to allow for an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Velcera and FidoPharm say the pet health products companies intend to seek an expedited appeal and will defend their ability to continue selling PetArmor Plus, the first generic fipronil product available on retail shelves in the U.S. Velcera and FidoPharm stated in a press release that the companies intend to pursue the action they filed in federal district court in Delaware in February 2011, seeking a declaratory judgment that Merial’s patent directed to a particular composition containing fipronil and s-methoprene is invalid and not infringed by PetArmor Plus. The validity of Merial’s patent was not at issue in the Georgia court proceedings. PetArmor Plus currently remains on the market. <Home>
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Caring For CatsJune 22, 2011 Right after graduating from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1990, Elizabeth J. Colleran, DVM, MS, set out on the typical small-animal career path. She did an internal medicine internship, then went to work for a mixed practice, caring for dogs, cats and the occasional bird. Right away, she saw some problems—or rather, some opportunities. “I came to see that cats were really underserved, and, in many respects, misunderstood,” says Dr. Colleran, 59. “I worked where there were barking dogs everywhere, and where there wasn’t great ventilation, and when cats came in, they freaked out.” That made Colleran think that the way to structure her own practice would be to create a separate specialized facility where cats could receive care in a less stressful setting. Cat Advocate Colleran joined the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and began meeting other veterinarians who specialized in caring for cats. Finally, in 1998, she opened the Chico (Calif.) Hospital for Cats. She now also owns the Cat Hospital of Portland (Ore.). Elizabeth J. Colleran, DVM, MS Along the way, she became not only a passionate advocate for better veterinary care …
Colorado Institute Awards Funding To VetDCJune 22, 2011 The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, selected Veterinary Emerging Technologies Development Corp. (VetDC) to receive funding and management assistance. VetDC develops and commercializes technologies to address unmet medical needs in companion animals. In the first quarter of 2011, VetDC acquired all North American veterinary rights to VDC-1101 (GS-9219), an anti-proliferative agent that targets lymphoid cells and works by inhibiting DNA synthesis, leading to the induction of apoptosis or programmed cell death. The VDC-1101 acquisition from Gilead Sciences allowed for development and commercialization of the agent for use in animal cancer. “We are excited to partner with VetDC and their experienced management team,” says Richard C. Duke, founder and chief scientific officer of CID4. “Our capital and management resources will assist with late-stage clinical trials and the potential commercialization of what may be an important new therapeutic option for animals suffering from lymphoma.” Steven Roy, president and CEO of VetDC says CID4 funding will help advance the company’s lead cancer program and increase employment. <Home>
Western Veterinary Conference Selling On-Demand PresentationsJune 22, 2011 Veterinarians can access select sessions presented at the Western Veterinary Conference online. WVC's Presentations On-Demand is available by annual subscription starting at $199 for a year-long subscription at the WVC online store. High-resolution, streaming videos from WVC 2011 and WVC 2010 can be viewed using PCs, Macs, 3G smart phones or tablets. Conference notes, which also include a CD, are available starting at $15. A WVC-Encore DVD-ROM set, which includes the notes CD, audio and a PowerPoint presentation is also available. Prices for the DVD-ROM set start at $49. The WVC-Encore Apple iPod Classic includes audio and a PowerPoint from the conference starting at $249. Visit WVCStore.com for more information. <Home>
ACVO Gives Free Exams To Service AnimalsJune 21, 2011The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists today announced a 25 percent increase in service animal exams from last year at the ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam Event. More than 200 volunteer board certified veterinary ophthalmologists throughout the U.S. and Canada examined 4,000 service animals during the annual event, which took place May 23. Guide dogs, assistance dogs, detection dogs, search and rescue dogs and other service animals including horses and a service donkey received free vision exams. As part of the program, a team of ACVO doctors hosted a service dog screening event at Lackland Air Force B ase in San Antonio at the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Center. Approximately 150 Transportation Security Agency dogs and military working dogs were screened. “We are beyond pleased by the number of service animals that received a free eye exam during this year’s event,” says Stacee Daniel, executive director of the ACVO. “Our volunteer veterinary ophthalmologists saw a record 4,000 animals which will help them stay in good eye health and continue to do their job of helping others.” The ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam Event goals are to benefit individuals who rely on service dogs, strengthen referral relationships …
Insuring Their FutureJune 21, 2011 Providers are making strides to persuade owners that coverage is worthwhile. The pet health insurance industry has seen its share of obstacles—from veterinary apprehension to policy confusion—since its 1980 debut. But industry insiders predict a bright future through not only the forging of business partnerships and the launch of new products and services but also a reduction in competition. Kristin Lynch, executive director of the 4-year-old North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA), works on behalf of two clienteles: insurance buyers and sellers. “We are an independent source for pet consumers and can explain what services should be provided with a policy,” Lynch says. “As the perception of pets increasingly becomes ‘one of the family,’ insurance will be more in demand,” she says. “There are very different ideas of pets’ role in life in urban and rural areas. As this bridge narrows … owners will want to be able to care for all of their pets’ medical needs.” For pet insurers, NAPHIA grants membership to qualified companies and strives to set professional and ethical standards. Another goal is to provide accurate benchmark statistics. One survey now under way asks about the average turnaround …
Groups Team To Contain EHV CasesJune 21, 2011 The American Horse Council and the American Association of Equine Practitioners are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the reporting of horses infected with equine herpesvirus after an outbreak that is believed to have started in late April. As of June 2, 84 confirmed cases of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) or its neurologic form, equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), had been reported in 10 states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The USDA reported that of the 84 cases: • 58 involved horses that attended the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western Regional Championship, held April 29-May 8 in Ogden, Utah. • 12 horses were dead or had been euthanized. • Two newly identified premises had suspected or confirmed cases. The collaboration between state and federal veterinarians and private practitioners is significant given the lack of federal regulations requiring reporting of EHM cases. To contain the outbreak, show organizers canceled competitions, the Bureau of Land Management postponed a Mustang adoption event in Tulare County, California, and horses were not shipped to remote adoption centers. EHM affects the brain and spinal cord, often leading to weakness, ataxia and …
Seven Antibiotics Classes Possibly Limited For Ag Use If Act Becomes LawJune 20, 2011 U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) introduced S. 1211, known as the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act of 2011 (PAMTA), on June 15. The bill amends the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to withdraw seven classes of antibiotics critical for treating infections in humans from use on industrial farms unless animals or herds are sick with disease. “The emergence of drug-resistant superbugs is a human health problem that affects us all,” says Laura Rogers, project director of Pew Human Health and Industrial Farming. “We commend Sen. Feinstein, Sen. Collins, Sen. Reed and Sen. Boxer for their bipartisan collaboration to ensure that our antibiotics will work for us when we need them most.” The American Medical Association and other health organizations warn that overuse and misuse of antibiotics in food animal production presents a serious threat to human health because it creates strains of drug-resistant bacteria. A task force led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health, antibiotic-resistant bacteria could render diseases like pneumonia, meningitis and tuberculosis untreatable. …
Idexx Laboratories Brings LNA Technology To Veterinary DiagnosticsJune 20, 2011 Exiqon today announced that it granted a non-exclusive license to Idexx Laboratories, Inc., to use Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) technology in products for veterinary diagnostics. LNA provides unique characteristics to molecular assays and offers many possibilities for developing competitive products. Exiqon will receive upfront, milestones and royalty payments on global sales of the products covered by this agreement. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “We are pleased to see Idexx Laboratories has chosen to apply Exiqon's proprietary technology in the field of veterinary diagnostics,” says Lars Kongsbak, CEO and president of Exiqon. “We are excited that the LNA technology is now being applied in veterinary diagnostic products which emphasizes the broad applicability of the LNA technology.” <Home>
Million Heart Challenge Website Supports Canine Cardiology ResearchJune 20, 2011 Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI) announced it will donate $15,000 to the American College of Internal Veterinary Medicine to support canine cardiology research after 1 million guests visit the Million Heart Challenge website. BIVI will also finance a vacation to a pet owner and veterinary professional participating in the challenge. “Diseases such as congestive heart failure (CHF) affect millions of dogs worldwide,” says Lara Sheeley, senior brand manager for BIVI. “These diseases dramatically reduce the quality of life for dogs and ultimately lead to their deaths. The Million Heart Challenge is our way of helping to educate pet owners about CHF and supporting promising new research while having some fun along the way.” About 10 percent of the 75 million U.S. dogs have heart disease. About 75 percent of older dogs and predisposed breeds have heart disease. “Canine heart disease is a critical challenge to dog owners, veterinarians and manufacturers,” Sheeley says. “The Million Heart Challenge is a way to work together toward our common goal of prolonging the lives of the dogs we love.” To participate, visit the Million Heart Challenge website. Click on the show your heart button …
