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If you want to understand how different the human and animal drug and vaccine industries have been historically, you need look no further than weight loss drugs.
On the human side, the popularity of these diabetes and weight loss treatments has skyrocketed in 2023 since Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly launched Ozempic, Wigovy, Munjaro, and Zepbound, respectively, to meet these demands. I had a hard time. Pfizer and AstraZeneca outline strategies to tap into a market worth tens of billions of dollars over the next decade, while smaller pharma companies seek a share in health care’s hottest areas. trying to get it.
By comparison, the first drug designed to combat obesity in dogs was ultimately pulled from the market in 2014 due to lack of interest.
Zoetis CEO Kristin Peck, who was named CEO in 2020 and named to CNBC’s inaugural Changemakers list, said, “My dog was one of the only dogs on the show. I think it was. If I explained why, it would look very bad.” on wednesday. “I don’t think many people would want to put their dog on weight-loss drugs, because if your dog is overweight, it’s probably because you’re not walking them and you’re feeding them too much.” I have to admit that.”
As the saying goes, dogs, and pets in general, have long been considered man’s best friend. But pet medications didn’t always fit that bill, and tick and flea collars were often the only preventive medication many pets saw outside of necessary veterinary visits.
But Peck said he has seen changes in the mindset of pet owners and changes in the drug pipeline that are bringing animal medicine more in line with human medicine.
“The new generation looks at pets very differently than previous generations,” Peck says. “Fifty, 60 years ago, your dog was in your backyard, but now your dog or cat is moving into your home, often your bed, sometimes in place of your children. I have a stroller, backpack, and clothes.”
When Pfizer spun off its animal health business to form Zoetis in 2013, about 65% of its business was in livestock. That has now reversed, with 64% of the company’s revenue coming from products for companion animals such as cats and dogs.
Mr. Peck continued to focus on innovation for the company, developing products in pet categories that did not previously exist.
For example, the company’s revenue from dermatology-related dog and cat medicines exceeded $1.3 billion in 2022, compared to less than $1 million in 2013. The company’s top product in this category is Apoquel. Designed to treat dogs suffering from allergic itching and dermatitis.
“When I said I was going to a dermatologist, [the reaction] Peck said, “Dogs don’t need dermatology. If it’s itchy, they’ll take Benadryl.” But we said we think we can create a market for them. “The Department’s sales will now exceed $1.3 billion, so that’s true,” Peck said. Five or six years ago, you would have said it was crazy, even if it wasn’t possible. ”
Peck credits the Pfizer spinoff with allowing Zoetis to better balance what the company wants to do on the animal health and human health fronts. “We only have one customer, and every dollar we spend, whether it’s research and development, commercial or manufacturing, we spend every day thinking about that,” she said. Told.
This approach led to the next product that Zoetis and Peck are betting will become a $1 billion franchise: treating osteoarthritis pain in dogs and cats.
In May, the FDA approved Librera, a monoclonal antibody treatment that can provide long-term control of OA pain symptoms in dogs and improve their mobility and overall quality of life. According to Zoetis, 40% of dogs show signs of OA and may have difficulty going up and down stairs, be hesitant to jump, limp after exercise, or become more withdrawn. It is said that there is a sex.
A similar product has been approved for cats, marking the first time that monoclonal antibody treatments, which are increasingly popular in treating the disease in humans, have been used to treat osteoarthritis pain in pets.
“We can’t make monoclonal antibodies for dogs in human medical facilities, so we have to be willing to invest capital during clinical trials, and this is a bold, large-scale capital decision,” Peck said. “We have proven that if pet owners find a product that is valuable, they will pay for it.”
Zoetis is focused on bridging the gap between human and animal health products, but also aims to address some of the unique differences, such as the diagnostic process, Peck said.
“People with osteoarthritis go to the doctor and get medication to help them live healthier, longer, better quality lives,” Peck said. “But if my hip is killing me and no one knows about it because I don’t have a limp, that means your dog doesn’t have osteoarthritis because he doesn’t have a limp. It’s like believing there isn’t.”
In June 2022, Zoetis spent more than $50 million to acquire Basepaws, a pet care genetics company that provides DNA testing for dogs and cats with a focus on early detection of health and disease risks.
“By looking at genetics and biomarkers to make a diagnosis, we can extend lifespan,” Peck said. “Improved predictive ability will greatly improve the quality of life for animals that cannot speak and communicate what they are feeling.”
Artificial intelligence is also helping. Peck said cats generally receive less medical care than dogs because many owners find it difficult to take them to the vet, so Zoetis allows cat owners to record their cat’s movements and make videos of them. They have invested in AI technology that can be uploaded and analyzed by AI to determine if a cat has an osteoarthritis problem.
Peck said Zoetis continues to focus on innovative approaches to animal health, carving a unique path to address the unique challenges that arise from caring for dogs and cats, while taking some cues from human health. said.
Unlike in 2014, is there now an Ozempic that is effective for dogs and cats?
Peck said the company continues to research GLP-1 to treat diabetes in pets, but weight loss is not a current focus area. Challenges related to cardiology, oncology and kidney disease are a top priority.
“We recognize the success this class of drugs has had in human health. In terms of treating obesity in pets, our research using genetic markers shows that it is effective for pets. It has the potential to create more targeted opportunities for solutions that pet owners will appreciate,” she said. “Many of the same technologies will work from humans to animals and from animals to humans.”
