FDA Approves Canine Cancer DrugJune 3, 2009 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Pfizer Animal Health’s Palladia (toceranib phosphate), the first drug developed specifically for the treatment of cancer in dogs. All cancer drugs now used in veterinary medicine originally were developed for use in humans and are not approved for animals. The prescription drug is approved to treat canine cutaneous mast cell tumors, a type of cancer responsible for about 20 percent of cases of canine skin tumors, according to the FDA. The New York company said it plans to introduce the product to boarded specialists within weeks to expand the body of clinical experience with the therapy. The drug will be available for purchase in early 2010. Palladia is an oral therapy indicated to treat Patnaik grade II or III recurrent cutaneous mast cell tumors with or without regional lymph node involvement. The drug belongs to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor class of compounds and works by blocking the activity of key receptors important for the development of blood vessels that supply tumors, as well as receptors critical for tumor survival, according to Pfizer Animal Health. The most common side effects associated with …
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Purchases Made Through Intervet Site Benefit SheltersJune 2, 2009 Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health launched a new website on June 2 for its Bring Pets Home shelter animal foundation, which will educate pet owners on safety and wellness and serve as a source of revenue for U.S. animal shelters. The website allows the general public to donate to a registered shelter of their choice by making purchases at shops such as Macy’s, Amazon.com and Drugstore. Site visitors make purchases from the participating retailers through the Bring Pets Home website, and select a shelter, to which a portion of their purchase will be donated. “This is great for veterinarians and their clients because it doesn’t cost the purchaser anything to donate. They simply make the same purchases they would have made anyway, but through the Bring Pets Home site,” says Linda Block, marketing director for Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. “The site launched in 2007, but we retooled it to offer more educational resources to promote responsible pet ownership.” The company hopes to keep owned animals out of shelters through the education provided on the site, since finding animals’ owners further draws from the …
Hip Dysplasia: Classic Changes On X-raysJune 2, 2009When evaluating dysplastic hip films, radiographic changes may include: A 7-month-old male Labrador suffering from severe hip dysplasia. • Hip subluxation, i.e. less than 66 percent coverage of the femoral head by the acetabulum. • The margins of the acetabulum and femoral head are not parallel. They form a triangle or a wedge. • Increased width of the joint space. • Thickening of the femoral neck. • Flattening or deformity of the femoral head. • Flattening of the acetabulum. A 6-year-old female Rottweiler suffering from severe hip dysplasia. • Irregular acetabulum rim. • Osteophytes on the acetabulum, femoral head and neck. • Sclerosis of the subchondral bone. A description of a normal hip would include: • Two-thirds of the femoral head are covered by the acetabulum. • The margins of the acetabulum and femoral head are parallel. • A small, flattened area of the femoral head represents the fovea capitis, which is where the round ligament attaches. This is a normal finding. <HOME>
Survey: Vet Students Face Increased Financial, Mental PressuresJune 2, 2009 Veterinary students are experiencing more financial and mental health pressures, according to a survey conducted by the British Veterinary Assn. and its Association of Veterinary Students branch. The survey, conducted every three years since 1996, was circulated to U.K. students during the 2007-08 academic year. In total, 1,833 (45 percent) of the students participated. About 79 percent were female. Also of note: 13 percent of the total number of students were from oversees, 49 percent of whom were from the U.S. In regard to financial pressures, 67 percent of students feel unable to work to supplement their income, with extramural studies regularly cited as a major factor, according to the survey. In addition, 35 percent of students indicated that their financial problems are either difficult or severe and 24 percent stated that their debts will have a large affect on their choice of job after graduation. In respect to mental health and well being, the survey found higher incidences of mental health problems among veterinary medicine students than in society at large. For instance, 29 percent of students said they either suffer from or had suffered from anxiety and 22 percent from depression. According to …
Treating Congestive Heart FailureJune 2, 2009 Karsten Schober, DVM, Ph.D., recently concluded a clinical study at Ohio State University that sought to utilize cardiac ultrasound to identify and stage congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs. Twenty-one dogs with asymptomatic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), 23 dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (MVD) and 10 dogs with CHF caused by MVD or DCM were enrolled, for a total of 63 canine patients. Any dog with dilated cardiomyopathy or MVD was welcome to the study unless it was treated with high doses of diuretics. The study began in 2006 and concluded in April. “The patients were given a clinical exam, chest radiography, cardiac ultrasound, blood chemistry, NTproANP and NTproBNP,” Dr. Schober says. “The dogs’ owners were asked to monitor respiration at home three times a day. Patients were re-evaluated in five to 14 days, and the effects of treatment based on the initial diagnosis and home monitoring were assessed.” The results of the study may help to diagnose CHF earlier, better stratify cardiovascular risk, tailor therapy to specific dog needs, and reduce the exposure of radiation required for repeated thoracic radiography, which is current protocol. “A lot of thinking has to go behind the final …
Lilly’s Animal Worldwide Revenue Up 12%June 2, 2009 Eli Lilly and Co.’s Animal Division reported worldwide revenue of $264.1 million in the first quarter ended March 31, an increase of 12 percent over the year-ago period. U.S. revenue grew by 43 percent, to $153.6 million, primarily due to sales from the Posilac acquisition completed in October. Revenue outside the U.S. fell by 13 percent, to $110.5 million, primarily because of unfavorable exchange rates, according to the Indianapolis company. Overall, Lilly reported first-quarter net income of $1.3 billion on revenue of $5 billion, compared to $1.1 billion and $4.8 billion, respectively, in the year-ago period. <HOME>
VCA’s Same-Store Sales Down 2.7 Percent In Q1June 2, 2009 VCA Antech Inc.’s same-store revenue declined by 2.7 percent in the first quarter ended March 31, while the same-store gross profit margin rose to 18.8 percent from 18.5 percent. The Animal Hospital Division reported first-quarter revenue of $238.4 million compared to $226.1 million in the year-ago period. The 5.4 percent increase was driven by acquisitions made in the past 12 months. The Los Angeles company made nine acquisitions during the quarter, marking historical combined annual revenue of $20.9 million. VCA Antech’s Laboratory Division reported first-quarter revenue of $77.5 million, compared to $76.7 million in the year-ago period. Revenue in the Medical Technology Division was $9.2 million in the first quarter, compared to $13.8 million in the year-ago period. Overall, VCA Antech reported first-quarter net income of $32.9 million on revenue of $315.9 million, compared to $32.2 million and $307.8 million, respectively, in the year-ago period. The company also affirmed its 2009 financial guidance: revenue of $1.36 billion to $1.39 billion and net income of $135.2 million to $141.1 million. <HOME>
Financial News Briefs - June 2009June 2, 2009 Food giant Nestlé, based in Vevey, Switzerland, reported Pet Care Division sales of $2.8 billion in the first quarter of 2009, compared to $2.5 billion a year earlier. The company attributed the performance to resilient demand for key premium and superpremium Purina brands, such as Dog Chow, Beneful, Pro Plan and Cat Chow. According to Nestlé, the growth of its pet care business was supported by products at different price points as well as the continued success of 2008 launches. Vetco Hospitals Inc., a subsidiary of PawsPlus Inc. of Sarasota, Fla., reported that March sales jumped by 39.1 percent, to $1.4 million, up from $981,600 in the year-ago period. First-quarter sales increased by 40.7 percent, to $3.1 million. Schering-Plough’s animal health business reported revenue of $630 million in the first quarter ended March 31, a 13 percent decrease from the year-ago period. Overall, the Kenilworth, N.J., company saw first-quarter net income of $805 million on revenue of $4.4 billion, compared to $314 million and $4.7 billion, respectively, in the year-ago period. Schering-Plough also reported that its merger with Merck remains on track.
California Spay/Neuter Bill Fails In SenateJune 2, 2009 The California Senate on June 1 rejected Senate Bill 250, a measure that would require sterilization of most of the state’s cats and dogs. The vote was 16-15, with 21 votes needed for passage. A vote to reconsider the measure will take place on June 2. SB250, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, calls on cat owners to spay or neuter their pet at 6 months of age if the cat is allowed to roam at large. The bill also requires the sterilization of all dogs at 6 months of age unless the owner gets an unaltered dog license. The bill has been amended to authorize local governments to use existing procedures to issue intact dog licenses or to charge a fee for procedures related to the issuance, denial or revocation of unaltered dog licenses. In addition, unaltered dogs used in legal hunting activities would be exempt from being cited. The sterilization of dogs found to be at large continues to be a requirement under the bill. SB250 is backed by the Social Compassion in Legislation, which says the bill would reduce euthanasia rates and save tax dollars, as well as various humane …
California Spay/Neuter Bill Moves To Senate FloorJune 1, 2009 California Senate Bill 250 goes before the Senate Floor during the first week of June 2009, where the full Senate votes on the measure that seeks to require spay or neuter surgery for most of the state’s cats and dogs. SB 250, by Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, calls on cat owners to spay or neuter their cats at 6 months of age if the cats are allowed to roam at large. The bill also requires the sterilization of all dogs at 6 months of age, unless the owner gets an unaltered dog license. The bill has been amended to authorize local governments to use existing procedures to issue the intact dog licenses or to charge a fee for procedures related to the issuance, denial or revocation of unaltered dog licenses. In addition, unaltered dogs used in legal hunting activities would be exempt from being cited. The sterilization of dogs found to be at-large continues to be a requirement under the bill. Click here to view the amended version. <HOME>
