Generic drug maker Putney Inc. has launched Tiletamine-Zolazepam injectable, a version of Telazol and the company’s sixth new veterinary product in the past seven months. Tiletamine-Zolazepam (tiletamine HCl and zolazepam HCl) injectable is formulated to restrain cats and dogs and to act as anesthesia during minor surgery. The medication, which has U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, is equivalent to the Zoetis Inc. drug Telazol (tiletamine HCl and zolazepam HCl). Putney, based in Portland, Maine, is selling Tiletamine-Zolazepam directly to veterinarians and through smaller distributors. Agreements between some larger drug manufacturers and distributors “continue to block veterinarians and U.S. consumers from accessing cost-saving generic drugs,” Putney President and CEO Jean Hoffman said. “Blocking agreements are the only reason that Putney does not have its full line of products at every established veterinary distributor serving companion animal veterinarians in the United States,” she said. “Distributors are not opposed to carrying our products,” she added. “In fact, distributors would like to carry our veterinary generics, and in cases where they have not been contractually prohibited from carrying our products, distributors report strong sales of Putney’s generic drugs.” A Federal Trade Commission report issued in May noted a relatively small number of generic drugs in the veterinary channel compared to the large quantity in human medicine. A Putney survey of pet owners found that 87 percent of them said they would opt for an FDA-approved veterinary generic of a brand-name medication if one was available.
