Elanco and Aratana Therapeutics finalize deal to mergeJuly 18, 2019Elanco Animal Health has acquired Aratana Therapeutics. Structured as a stock-for-stock transaction, the deal was accepted by Aratana stockholders. "Aratana's strong position in the specialty market—with its current portfolio and pipeline—complements Elanco's field presence and capitalizes on new opportunities for key existing Elanco pet therapy brands," says Jeff Simmons, president and chief executive officer of Elanco. "This deal furthers Elanco's value-generating innovation, portfolio, and productivity (IPP) strategy, while continuing to bring great value to veterinarians and pet owners." Aratana produces Galliprant, a canine NSAID for osteoarthritis for which Elanco has had the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize since 2016. Aratana also contributes two additional products to Elanco's portfolio: Entyce, the only FDA-approved veterinary therapeutic to stimulate appetite in dogs, and Nocita, a long-acting local anesthetic that provides up to 72 hours of post-operative pain relief following certain surgeries in dogs and cats. Further, Aratana's research and development pipeline will contribute to Elanco's efforts to sustain the introduction of novel and innovative companion animal therapeutics. As a result of the acquisition, Elanco says it is forming a new commercial team dedicated to the veterinary specialty business into which the Aratana field force will transition. This specialty sales force will …
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Aratana Therapeutics' Nocita 10 ml gets FDA approvalJune 13, 2019Aratana Therapeutics announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has approved an additional vial size (10 ml) of Nocita. "Since its launch in 2016, Nocita has drastically changed veterinary multimodal pain management protocols because it safely and effectively controls pain in patients for up to 72 hours following certain canine and feline surgeries," says Aratana Therapeutics chief development officer, Ernst Heinen, DVM, PhD. "Ultimately, we believe a smaller vial size may allow for expanded use and improve the level of care veterinarians provide for certain painful surgeries." Nocita, which is currently available in a 20-ml vial size, is a local postoperative analgesia for cranial cruciate ligament surgery in dogs and a peripheral nerve block following owner-elected onychectomy (declawing) in cats. The smaller vial size is expected to be made commercially available in fall 2019.
Aratana Therapeutics seeks feline label expansion for NocitaJune 12, 2018Aratana Therapeutics Inc. announced it has submitted a supplemental new animal drug application with the FDA to approve the use of Nocita in cats to provide regional analgesia following onychectomy. Nocita (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension), which provides up to 72 hours of analgesia postoperatively using multivesicular liposomal technology, was first approved in August 2016 for canine use following cranial cruciate ligament surgery. "We believe veterinarians are in need of safe and effective, nonopioid alternatives to provide pain relief to their feline and canine patients," said Ernst Heinen, DVM, Ph.D., chief development officer of Aratana Therapeutics. "If the supplemental NADA is approved, NOCITA will help control feline pain for up to 72 hours by blocking pain signals at their source, the nerve." Visit aratana.com.
Aratana secures third FDA approvalAugust 16, 2016The future is much brighter at Aratana Therapeutics Inc. The Leawood, Kan., company this week won U.S. government approval of its third veterinary biopharmaceutical, Nocita (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension).