Students to get hands-on experience through summer programJune 26, 2019More than 200 students from 42 veterinary schools in the U.S. and beyond will forego vacation this summer to work in laboratories with academic and industry leaders.
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Boehringer Ingelheim launches initiative to fight heartworm disease in dogsMarch 6, 2019Boehringer Ingelheim is debuting Heartworm 2020, an initiative dedicated to increasing the number of dogs who receive heartworm disease prevention in 2019. The initiative comes in response to a report from the American Heartworm Society (AHS) that found a 21 percent increase in positive heartworm tests per clinic. "We knew we could help increase the number of dogs receiving the heartworm disease prevention," says Sarah Cloud, Heartgard brand director. "Heartworm 2020 addresses this issue at the grassroots level by asking everyone in the veterinary clinic to participate. If every clinic does their part to get 20 new dogs on prevention, that means 583,240 more dogs will be protected from this potentially deadly disease in 2019 than were protected in 2018." To help clinics accomplish the Heartworm 2020 goal, Heartgard Plus will give heartworm disease education tools and incentives to pet owners. Heartgard Plus will also provide clinics with tracking tools and educational resources for staff. "Helping clinics educate pet owners on the on-going risks of heartworm disease is the first step in increasing the number of dogs on prevention," says head of U.S. Pet Veterinary Professional Services, Zach Mills, DVM. "Heartworm 2020 will help educate pet owners on heartworm …
Boehringer Ingelheim announces North American headquarters in GeorgiaFebruary 27, 2019Boehringer Ingelheim has announced it is investing $120 million in Georgia, creating 225 jobs. "For nearly 40 years, the company and its predecessors have helped make the state of Georgia a key player in animal health—from its beginning producing rabies vaccines in Athens, to multiple facilities today that are playing an instrumental role in advancing animal health and well-being," said Everett Hoekstra, president of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA. "Our investments will expand our capabilities and presence in Georgia, and drive future growth and innovation to help prevent disease in livestock and pets." The North American headquarters will be located in Duluth and result in the creation of 75 jobs. Boehringer's manufacturing and research and development facility in Athens is adding over 100 new jobs, and the manufacturing facility in Gainesville is producing more than 50 jobs. "We're excited to welcome Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA to the Peach State," said Governor Brian P. Kemp. "As a family-owned business, they will join a first-class corporate family here in Georgia. I look forward to working with them to strengthen our university system and existing industries in agribusiness, health technology, and science."
FDA approves Boehringer Ingelheim's Semintra for feline hypertensionOctober 2, 2018The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has approved Semintra (telmisartan oral solution) 10 mg/mL oral solution for the control of systemic hypertension in cats, according to Boehringer Ingelheim. The product was designed specifically with cats in mind to provide safe, reliable, and convenient long-term control of blood pressure, said Boehringer Ingelheim. "We are proud to continue to set new standards of care for cats to optimize their health and well-being through the veterinarian," said Shawn Hooker, global head of Strategic Business Unit Pet Vet at Boehringer Ingelheim. "Early disease detection and early treatment are key to ensure cats live longer and happier lives. With Semintra, we offer a pet owner-friendly, easy-to-give solution to help raise the quality of life of cats with hypertension, while providing reliable long-term blood pressure control." Semintra is for oral use in cats only. The most common side effects reported in field studies include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, anemia, dehydration, poor appetite, and weight loss. It has not been evaluated in cats with systolic blood pressure > 200 mmHg, cats with hepatic disease, cats younger than 9 months of age, or cats that are pregnant, lactating, or intended for breeding. Visit semintra.com for …
Boehringer Ingelheim gives support shots for World Rabies Day 2018September 13, 2018Merial, part of Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), announced it will donate 75,000 doses of rabies vaccine to the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) in recognition of World Rabies Day on Sept. 28. The donation is a result of the Shots for Good initiative, in which BI pledged to donate doses of rabies vaccine for every dose of Purevax, Recombitek, and Imrab vaccine purchased by participating veterinary practices from July 2 to Aug. 10, 2018. The donated vaccines will support a mass dog vaccination campaign in Madagascar to control the disease and limit the potential for reintroduction of rabies from neighboring countries. "The support of our participating veterinary practices made this donation possible," said Zach Mills, DVM, executive director of BI's U.S. Pet Veterinary Professional Services. "BI understands the importance of vaccination to the overall health of pets worldwide. With more than a decade of experience advocating for rabies prevention, the Global Alliance for Rabies Control has the infrastructure to put this donation to good use." GARC will manage the campaign in Madagascar with government veterinary services and international and local nongovernmental organizations. Established protocols will be used to plot and …
Kindred Biosciences joins AAEP educational partnersSeptember 4, 2018Kindred Biosciences Inc. has joined the American Association of Equine Practitioners' (AAEP) Educational Partner Program. Educational Partners provide resources and education through the AAEP to equine veterinarians and horse owners to improve animal health and welfare. "KindredBio's partnership with the AAEP brings together two organizations that share a passion for improving equine wellness," said Denise Bevers, co-founder and COO. "Our company is focused on addressing the numerous unmet medical needs that equine veterinarians encounter daily. In addition, many of us at KindredBio are horse owners, so we understand there is no better equine partner than the AAEP." At the upcoming AAEP convention in San Francisco, the company will be the Health and Wellness Initiative sponsor, will underwrite a Sunrise Session, and will have a large presence in the exhibit hall. The company focuses on drug development for cats, dogs, and horses. Equine products in development include a product for control of pyrexia (fever) in horses, which is currently under review by the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. The company becomes the 11th equine health corporation in the AAEP's Educational Partnership Program. The 10 other AAEP Educational Partners are Boehringer Ingelheim, Cargill, Dechra Veterinary …
Boehringer Ingelheim receives new label claim for repro productAugust 29, 2018Boehringer Ingelheim announced that Cystorelin is now labeled for use in combination with Synchsure to synchronize estrous cycles to allow for fixed-time artificial insemination in lactating dairy cows and beef cows. When used together, the products can provide producers with shortened time to first service, increased estrus-detection efficiency, and improved first-service conception rate in their cattle. "Cystorelin and Synchsure deliver dependability and flexibility that can improve overall herd reproductive performance," Stephen Foulke, DVM, professional services veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim. "We're proud to help producers take the guesswork out of their breeding programs and to help their herd conceive and calve on schedule, saving them time and money." While many factors have a large impact on reproductive successes such as nutrition, cow comfort, heat abatement, dry cow management and more, Dr. Foulke said the best reproduction program is one that can get done consistently and correctly. "I recommend working closely with your herd veterinarian to determine your specific reproduction goals to implement the best synchronization program for your needs," he said. Visit SyncTheHerd.com to learn more about Cystorelin and Synchsure.
FDA approves NexGard expanded label claimsAugust 22, 2018Merial, part of Boehringer Ingelheim, received approval from the U.S Food and Drug Administration to expand the label claims for NexGard (afoxolaner). The flea and tick control product is now approved to prevent Borrelia burgdorferi infections as a direct result of it killing Ixodes scapularis vector ticks, commonly called black-legged, or deer, ticks. NexGard is the first and only flea and tick product to receive FDA approval for preventing infections that cause Lyme disease by killing the vector ticks, the company stated. The approval comes just as veterinarians and pet owners in many parts of the country are being warned about the potential of an increased number of Lyme disease cases in 2018. The FDA approval is based on two well-controlled laboratory studies that showed that NexGard effectively prevented the transmission of B. burgdorfei infections after dogs were infested with wild-caught I. scapularis ticks 28 days after treatment with NexGard, said the manufacturer. "Both studies measured the transmission of B. burgdorferi to dogs after exposure to infected ticks," said Zach Mills, DVM, head of US Pet Veterinary Professional Services. "All dogs treated with NexGard tested negative for B. burgdorferi infection, demonstrating that transmission was prevented as a direct result …
Veterinary practice trends webinar highlights further industry consolidationAugust 17, 2018In just five years, 25 percent of veterinary practices, accounting for half of all veterinary visits, will be corporately owned, according to Brakke Consulting. During a webinar presented at the end of June, "Hot Topics in Veterinary Practice," Brakke senior consultant John Volk said myriad variables were contributing to the trend: looming mass veterinarian retirement, fewer vets wanting to own practices, low interest rates and high interest for investors, and more. The webinar also discussed the largest veterinary consolidators; Banfield Pet Hospital and VCA lead the way with nearly 2,000 practices; National Veterinary Associates counts more than 400 clinics, and VetCor has more than 200. Something corporate outfits can offer that consumers want is the convenience of pet health plans, which allow pet owners to pay in regular installments, increase clinic visits and revenue, improve patient care, attract new clients, and build a bond between the practice and the client. To counteract corporate sales, Volk said associates should work with a current owner, partner with others, and focus on one- and two-doctor practices. Other sectors of the profession mimic the consolidation trend. The top five animal drug manufacturers, Bayer Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Elanco Animal Health, …
Meet the 2018 National Veterinary Scholars award recipientsAugust 7, 2018The 29th annual National Veterinary Scholars Symposium drew more than 650 veterinary students from across North America and Europe, animal health researchers, and leaders from more than 36 veterinary schools, to view research accomplishments by veterinary students completing summer research internships. The Boehringer Ingelheim-sponsored program, which allows veterinary schools to introduce first- and second-year veterinary medical students to biomedical research, was held Aug. 4-5 at Texas A&M University. Presentations and panel discussions provided students with perspective on various topics, including global food security and sustainability, emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases, and antimicrobial resistance. "Innovation in both animal and human health is inextricably linked, and to address unmet clinical need in both areas we need motivated and skilled scientists and researchers," said Fabian Kausche, Ph.D., MS, AMP, global head of research and development for BI's Animal Health business. "Over the last few decades, more than 3,000 veterinary students have participated in this annual program and benefited from this tremendous experience and exposure to career pathways. The impact of such experiential learning programs to the students involved, to industry and to human and animal patients is significant." At each of the more than three dozen participating institutions, BI Veterinary Scholars are assigned …