Zoetis wins approval for monthly flea-fighting pill, setting up three-way rivalry
Zoetis won FDA approval on Feb. 25 for Simparica (sarolaner), a once-monthly chewable pill that fends off fleas and four types of ticks, setting up a three-way race between Zoetis, Merck Animal Health and Sanofi's Merial to capture a global market for antiparasitics that consultant Vetnosis estimates to be worth more than $4 billion a year.
Down on the Roslin's farm? Genetically engineered pigs and chickens
The University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute made headlines after cloning Dolly the sheep, and now the research center is generating more buzz for its work with other animals. Roslin is genetically engineering pigs to resist African swine fever and using similar gene-editing techniques to create chickens that may be resistant to bird flu.
Oasmia repositions chemo drug for dogs in bid to grab larger market
Sweden's Oasmia Pharmaceutical had high hopes for its canine cancer drug, Paccal Vet-CA1, when it snatched the product back from Zoetis last summer. The product, a version of the chemo drug paclitaxel that's specially formulated for dogs, has a conditional approval from the FDA but had been put on the back burner by Zoetis, which was in the midst of downsizing its product portfolio. Oasmia planned to raise $23 million in an initial public offering to support the further development of Paccal Vet-CA1, another veterinary drug it regained from Zoetis called Doxophos Vet, and a suite of drugs for people.
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UPDATED: High-flying Parnell dips on 2015 results and 2016 guidance
Last year, Aussie transplant Parnell Pharmaceuticals enjoyed strong demand in the U.S. for its products aimed at companion and food animals, driving its sales for the year up 58% to AU$13.2 million ($9.4 million), the company announced Feb. 24. It told investors to expect revenues to grow between 50% and 70% this year to at least $14 million.
Animal health boosts Bayer's sales growth but 2016 forecast disappoints
On Feb. 25, Bayer announced that sales in its fourth quarter grew nearly 5% year over year to €11.3 billion ($12.3 billion) and that it pulled in total revenues for 2015 of €46.3 billion ($50.6 billion), up 12%.
Animal Health acquisition pushes Patterson's Q3 earnings past estimates
Last year, Minnesota-based distributor Patterson made a $1.1 billion bet that boosting its animal health business would turbo-charge its growth. The bet paid off in the company's fiscal third quarter, as strong animal health sales helped Patterson's earnings from continuing operations grow 38% to 68 cents per share, the company announced February 25.
Dechra charts strong growth with new drug approvals and global expansion
U.K.-based Dechra Pharmaceuticals has spent much of the past year rolling out a global expansion plan that's largely focused on increasing its presence in North America, while also gaining a foothold in the growing market for drugs to treat food animals. On Feb. 22, the company announced that results in the first half of its fiscal 2016 indicate it is well on its way to meeting those goals.
Study: Fat cats will still love you if you put them on a diet
Veterinarians at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine took 58 obese cats, randomized them to three different diets for 8 weeks, and asked their owners to record their behavior over that time. They found that the cats were actually more affectionate after their calories were restricted.
U.K. charity sets out to sequence genomes from 50 dog breeds this year
Purebred dogs are particularly vulnerable to a range of genetic diseases, but most breeders don't have access to good tests that can help them breed out those conditions. Now the U.K.'s Animal Health Trust is creating the country's largest canine genome bank at its Kennel Club Genetics Centre and has launched a project aimed at sequencing the genomes of 50 purebreds by the end of 2016.
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One way for a drug wholesaler to strengthen its position in the supply chain is to own the drugstores that sell its meds. That is what drug distribution giant McKesson says it will do in Canada with a $2.23 billion (C$3 billion) deal for a leading pharmacy chain there.
Seoul-based Yuhan Corp. will put up $10 million to work with with Sorrento Therapeutics to develop oncology focused immune checkpoint antibodies from the San Diego firm in a joint venture.
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