FDA Approves New Canine Medications

Two new canine medications were approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2015.

Coraxis™

Coraxis is produced by Bayer HealthCare LLC, Animal Health Division and was approved on June 6th. According to the FDA this medication is used “For the prevention of heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis, and for the treatment and control of Ancylostoma caninum (adults, immature adults, and fourth stage larvae), Uncinaria stenocephala (adults, immature adults, and fourth stage larvae), Toxocara canis (adults and fourth stage larvae), Toxascaris leonina (adults), and Trichuris vulpis (adults) in dogs and puppies that are at least 7 weeks of age and that weigh at least 3 pounds.”

Cerenia®

Cerenia is produced by Zoetis Inc. and was approved on June 17th. According to the FDA, “This supplement provides for extension of the number of days of consecutive use from “5 days” to “until resolution of acute vomiting” for the prevention of acute vomiting in dogs 7 months and older.”

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Olivier Brandicourt to leave Bayer HealthCare

Werner Baumann (left) and Olivier Brandicourt

Effective March 31, 2015, Oliver Brandicourt, Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer Healthcare AG and member of the Executive Council of Bayer AG, will leave the company to become the new CEO of Sanofi. On the same date, Werner Baumann, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG, will take over the function of Chairman at Bayer HealthCare. 

Baumann will remain a member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and of the company's Executive Council. He will also retain responsibility for strategy and portfolio management as well as for the Europe region. He already held leading positions at Bayer HealthCare from 2002 to 2009 – initially as Head of Central Administration & Organization and later as a member of the Board of Management and as the subgroup's Labor Director. Between 2006 and 2009, he actively participated in the integration of Schering AG, Berlin, Germany. Bayer HealthCare comprises the Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Care, Animal Health and Medical Care divisions.

"I would like to thank Olivier Brandicourt for his commitment and his contributions to the very successful development of Bayer HealthCare and I wish him all the best in his new function as CEO of Sanofi," said Dr. Marijn Dekkers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer AG. "At the same time, I am very pleased that Werner Baumann will be leading our HealthCare business. He is a highly experienced leader with extensive expertise in this area." Over the coming months, Baumann will steer HealthCare's operating business together with the HealthCare Executive Committee and will work on the strategic realignment of the business in light of Bayer's future concentration on the Life Sciences HealthCare and CropScience as announced. 

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Bayer plans to focus entirely on Life Science businesses

Bayer announced last week it intends to focus entirely on the Life Science business - HealthCare and CropScience - and float MaterialScience on the stock market as a separate company. This move will position Bayer as a world-leading company in the field of human, animal and plant health. 

"Our intention is to create two top global corporations: Bayer as a world-class innovation company in the Life Science businesses, and MaterialScience as a leading player in polymers," said Bayer CEO Dr. Marijn Dekkers. He added that both companies have excellent prospects for success in their respective industries. 

The plan was unanimously approved by the Supervisory Board 18 September. It is expected that Bayer's MaterialScience business will be floated on the stock market by 2016 at the latest. Planned separation will benefit both Bayer and MaterialScience. The companies of the future Bayer Group had pro forma sales of approximately EUR 29 billion in 2013. they will employ nearly 99,000 people. Corporate headquarters will remain in Leverkusen. 

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Dieter Weinand to become President of Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals

Bayer Pharmaceuticals announced it has appointed Dieter Weinand, to take over the position of President at Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, effective August 1, 2014. 

Weinand will join Bayer HealthCare from Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization Inc., where he is currently responsible as President, Global Commercialization for a $13 billion revenue healthcare business. 

"We welcome Dieter Weinand to our management team," said Oliver Brandicourt, CEO of Bayer HealthCare. "Based on his extensive commercial experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Dieter Weinand will drive the growth of our pharmaceutical business further and maximize the value of our product portfolio." 

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Bayer findings on felines

A new study conducted by Bayer HealthCare, in collaboration with the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), reveals that 78% of veterinarians believe better care for cats represents one of the most significant, missed opportunities for the profession. The same study reveals that more than half (52%) of cats in America had not been taken to the vet in the past year.

A key objective of the Veterinary Care Usage Study III: Feline Findings is to determine the extent to which veterinary practices recognize the need to improve cat care and what steps, if any, they have taken to increase feline visits. Nearly 70% of veterinarians were familiar with the earlier Bayer studies. Of those most familiar, 48% indicated they had made specific changes in their practices, most aimed at increasing cat visits. Moreover, 91% of veterinarians believe they have available capacity to handle more cat visits without significant changes. 

Bayer's Veterinary Care Usage Study III identifies a number of roadblocks to veterinary cat care, potential practices to encourage cat visits and overall trends in revenue and pet visits. With eye-catching taglines like "69% of cats were obtained at no cost" and "Owners said they consider their dogs to be companions and dependent and their cats to be pets and independent" this study is sure to influence conversations around cats in our homes and communities.

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Bayer approved to buy Teva Animal Drug Division

Bayer HealthCare announced last week it has completed the purchase of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries following regulatory approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

The $145 million purchase, announced in September 2012, will include Teva's animal health manufacturing site in St. Joseph, which employs about 300. 

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Industry - Bayer to buy Teva's US Animal Health Unit for up to $145 Million

Bayer HealthCare announced 14 September 2012, it intends to acquire the U.S. based animal health business of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. The acquisition allows Bayer to expand its  product lines by integrating the acquired assets into its animal health business. 

"We are pleased with the sale of our animal healthcare business to Bayer HealthCare, a leader in animal healthcare," said Itzhak Krinsky, Group Executive Vice President and Head of Business Development of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. 

"Today's transaction represents a successful outcome for both parties and is a part of our global strategic planning." 


The potential $145 million deal reflects Teva's commitment to focus its efforts on human health and it's core expertise of providing generic and branded medicines to patients around the world, in alignment with its strategy to focus on its core business assets.

If approved, the acquisition will further strengthen Bayer's food animal franchise, bringing a range of anti-infective solutions to treat infections in livestock populations and introducing reproductive hormones to Bayer's product offerings. Additionally, it will broaden Bayer HealthCare Animal Health's growing companion animal business by expanding its current offerings to also include dermatological, pet wellness and nutraceutical products.  

"Bayer's acquisition of Teva Animal Health will further strengthen and broaden our U.S. range of animal care solutions so that, together with our customers, we can continue to protect, cure and care for animals across America," said Ian Spinks, President and General Manager, Bayer HealthCare Animal Health North America. 

"The businesses are a great strategic fit and Teva's animal health portfolio adds new depth for us across both the companion and food animal areas. We believe it will be a win-win for both our customers and our combined employee bases."

The purchase price includes an upfront payment of $60 million plus a total of $85 million in milestone payments, which are linked to the successful and timely achievement of manufacturing and sales targets. The transaction, encompassing a manufacturing site in St. Joseph, Missouri and around 300 employees, is expected to close in 2013, subject to antitrust clearance and satisfaction of other conditions.

Bayer HealthCare Launches New Advertising Campaign

Bayer HealthCare announced April 10, 2012 the launch of their new advertising campaign starting this spring that will target Canadian pet owners, more specifically cat and dog owners, on the importance of effective flea control.

The campaign will encourage pet owners to speak with their veterinarians about prevention and the possible risks that flea's could have on their pets.

Click the following link to read the official Press Release:

• Bayer Launches Advertising Campaign for Pet Owners