FDA five-year plan to combat rising threat of antibiotic overuseAugust 3, 2018In its ongoing effort to combat antimicrobial resistance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it will implement a five-year blueprint outlining the administration's strategy to "advance antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary settings." As part of the FDA's regulatory mission, its Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of animal drugs, including antimicrobials. Progress has been made, but additional work is needed to address the complex challenge of antimicrobial resistance, the organization said in a statement. "At FDA, we believe that the concept of antimicrobial stewardship encompasses several important principles of judicious use," said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD. "These are critical to slowing the rate at which bacteria develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs. In simple terms, we believe medically important antimicrobial drugs should only be used when necessary to treat, control or prevent disease. In addition, when such use is necessary, these antimicrobials should be used in an optimal manner. They should only be used under the oversight of a licensed veterinarian." The administration's plan, which will cover fiscal years 2019 - 2023, will focus three goals: Aligning antimicrobial drug product use with the principles of antimicrobial stewardship Supporting …
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Dan Grooms named Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine deanAugust 2, 2018Dan Grooms, DVM, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State University, has been appointed the next Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. His tenure begins Oct. 1. An expert in bovine infectious diseases, Dr. Grooms earned a bachelor's degree in animal science from Cornell University and a veterinary medicine degree and a Ph.D. in veterinary preventive medicine from The Ohio State University. He joined Michigan State in 1997 and was promoted to his present position in 2014. He also holds board certification from the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists, with specialty in veterinary virology; is a former president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners; and has served on the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture's Committee on Animal Health. "Dr. Grooms is an accomplished scientist, teacher and leader who will build on the college's reputation for excellence and the great achievements of our students, faculty and staff," said Wendy Wintersteen, Ph.D., dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. "I am confident he will also work effectively with veterinarians across the state, livestock and poultry producers and others who …
FDA reminds vets of Zycortal Suspension amid Percorten-V shortageAugust 2, 2018Due to a shortage of Percorten-V, which is approved for use as replacement therapy for mineralocorticoid deficit in dogs with Addison's Disease, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine is reminding veterinarians that Zycortal Suspension is an alternative treatment option that is not currently in shortage. Elanco Animal Health, manufacturer of Percorten-V (desoxycorticosterone pivalate injectable suspension), reported a manufacturing issue with the product. "Elanco is experiencing a delay in production of Percorten-V due to the inability of our contract manufacturing facility to supply product," according to the company's website. "While we work diligently to resolve this delay, there is an interruption of product supply to veterinarians. The technical challenges in the manufacturing process are being actively investigated with a focus on expediting resolution. The timeframe to resume production is dependent on the investigation conclusions and at this point is unknown. Elanco deeply regrets that this production issue is impacting the veterinarians and pets that rely on us to manage this serious disease, and is working persistently to hurry this product back to those who need it." Zycortal Suspension (desoxycorticosterone pivalate injectable suspension), also approved for use replacement therapies for mineralocorticoid …
Vetology launches pet X-ray-reading AI software August 2, 2018Vetology Innovations LLC has launched artificial intelligence radiology software designed to provide veterinary professionals with an automated diagnostic resource for patient radiographs. The San Diego-based company's AI, in development since 2017, provides a "comprehensive, rapid, and affordable resource for veterinarians evaluating patient radiographs and determining necessary medical treatments." Vetology's software uses artificial neural networks trained on known normal and abnormal X-ray images, allowing veterinarians to upload an image and receive a written analysis in less than 90 seconds. Software features include unlimited automated heart size evaluation and vertebral heart score calculations and image storage. "Pioneering the creation of this technology for the veterinary industry has been our goal for many years," said Seth Wallack, DVM, DACVR, founder of Vetology Innovations. "We're incredibly proud of what we've accomplished and what it means for the future of those who are committed to delivering better patient care. Without a doubt, AI will have a dramatic and positive effect on the entire veterinary industry. "The automated heart evaluation function of our AI technology is something we are excited about because without any input from a human, the software can immediately notify a veterinarian that further cardiac evaluation may be needed," …
Zoetis completes $2 billion acquisition of AbaxisAugust 1, 2018Zoetis Inc. announced on July 31 the completion of its acquisition of Abaxis, a developer, manufacturer, and marketer of diagnostic instruments for veterinary point-of-care services for approximately $2 billion. The acquisition, first announced on May 16, aims to enhance Zoetis' presence in veterinary diagnostics, a category of the animal health industry with approximately 10 percent compound annual growth over the last three years. "Abaxis, with its VetScan family of diagnostic instruments, brings Zoetis experienced colleagues and a proven, competitive platform for growth in diagnostics," said Juan Ramón Alaix, CEO of Zoetis. "By leveraging our global scale and direct customer relationships in approximately 45 countries, we can help Abaxis accelerate that growth in the U.S. and worldwide. Together, we can bring more veterinarian customers comprehensive solutions to predict, prevent, detect, and treat disease in animals." Zoetis executives will comment on the acquisition and provide updated financial guidance at the company's second quarter 2018 financial results webcast and conference call on Aug. 2 at 8:30 a.m. (ET). Investors and the public may access the live webcast by visiting the Zoetis website at http://investor.zoetis.com/events-presentations.
Henry Schein disaster relief hotline open for California wildfire victimsAugust 1, 2018The Henry Schein Disaster Relief Hotline is open for veterinarians who may experience operational, logistical, or financial issues as a result of damage caused by the Northern California wildfires. The toll-free number for all Henry Schein customers is 800-999-9729 and is open 24/7, with real-time assistance available from Team Schein Members from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. The Henry Schein Disaster Relief Hotline remains open throughout the year to provide assistance to practitioners during their preparation and recovery from disasters. To help meet the challenges of rebuilding a practice in the wake of a natural disaster, practitioners can download the company's Recovery Guide for Office-Based Practitioners. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the people and communities throughout California as they cope with the destruction caused by the wildfires," said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman and CEO of Henry Schein. "We are prepared to help health care providers whose practices may sustain damage, and we encourage those practitioners to contact our disaster relief hotline for assistance."
House, Senate pass animal drug user fee legislationAugust 1, 2018The U.S. House and Senate have passed the Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2018 (HR 5554/S 2434), which are vital to increasing veterinary access to drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The House passed the bill on July 16, and the Senate passed the bill on July 31. The legislation includes language that would expand conditional approvals beyond minor uses and minor species. The animal drug user fee amendments will reauthorize the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine to continue collecting animal drug and animal generic drug user fees from the drugs' sponsors. These fees, coupled with annual appropriations, support FDA's animal drug review processes and ultimately improve veterinary access to FDA-approved drugs. Conditional approval of new animal drugs will incentivize the development of new and innovative products for conditions that prove particularly difficult to study, according to the AVMA. "By providing new animal drugs with a predictable pathway to market, these fees help provide veterinarians with access to new and additional tools that can potentially improve treatment outcomes, provide alternatives to existing therapies, fill unmet medical needs in veterinary medicine, and ultimately …
MyVet Imaging becomes Rayence subsidiaryAugust 1, 2018MyVet Imaging Inc. is now a subsidiary of South Korean digital imaging provider Rayence. The New Jersey-based company will sell its own high-resolution CMOS intraoral sensors with proprietary image processing software along with other veterinary dental solutions as well as DR flat panels and radiographic X-ray systems and ultrasound devices. The new subsidiary also will launch a dedicated equine imaging solution that will include the world's first 4-by-6-inch equine intraoral MyVet Imaging will be the primary resource center for development, production, logistics, and customer service for North America as well as Europe. As part of the launch, MyVet Imaging has updated its logo. "With this commitment, we expect to increase our combined global veterinary imaging sales by concentrating fully in the veterinary market space," said Leo Park, president of MyVet Imaging. "We are upgrading our business model to reflect complete dental, DR packages, and imaging solutions business. We are anticipating additional investments to develop more advanced veterinary dental imaging products [and] expand our manufacturing capabilities domestically." The company will display its complete veterinary portfolio at the New York Vet conference in November.
Kindred Biosciences' Mirataz commercially available in U.S.May 9, 2018Update: this product is now commercially available in the U.S. Kindred Biosciences Inc. has received approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for Mirataz (mirtazapine transdermal ointment) for the management of weight loss in cats. Mirtazapine, which blocks specific serotonin and histamine receptors that play a role in appetite and nausea, demonstrated a 3.9 percent increase in body weight in cats with unintended weight loss in as little as 14 days, according to San Francisco-based Kindred. To help improve owner and patient compliance, Mirataz will be available in a topical formulation applied to the inner pinna of a cat's ear. Research shows daily topical application for 14 days resulted in measurable plasma concentrations of mirtazapine in cats, the manufacturer stated. Mirataz offers the confidence of a product approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine, convenience of transdermal application, Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) production quality, known stability, manufacturer technical support, and a practical way to manage feline weight loss without administration of oral medication, according to Valentine S. Williams, DVM, DACVS, director of veterinary affairs at Kindred Biosciences.
As U.S. pet obesity balloons, vets, owners talk diet, nutritionApril 20, 2018The dog and cat pet obesity epidemic in the U.S. continues to grow, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). In the organization's 2017 annual clinical survey, 56 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinarian. In 2016, APOP found 54 percent of dogs and 59 percent of cats were overweight or obese. In the survey, pet owners and veterinary professionals were questioned about diet and nutrition, sources of pet food advice, the benefits of corn, dry versus canned, whether pet food has improved, the best sources of pet dietary recommendations, and more. Among the findings: 58 percent of pet owners and 54 percent of veterinary professionals reported having tried to help their own pet lose weight via low-calorie and weight loss diets combined with increased exercise. 25 percent of pet owners and 43 percent of veterinary professionals said they were "too busy" to exercise their dog; 21 percent of pet owners and 19 percent of veterinary professionals cited behavior issues as a barrier. Inadequate access to exercise areas and physical limitations of the owner and pet rounded out the reported challenges. 48 percent of …
