Cover story
- Boehringer Ingelheim Acquires Evax to Advance Therapeutic Vaccines for Equine Allergies
Featured Article
- Understanding Separation Anxiety
Regulatory Authorization
- Elanco’s CLiK Extra Receives FDA Emergency Authorization to Prevent New World Screwworm in Livestock
- Zoetis’ Simparica Trio Gains FDA Emergency Authorization for New World Screwworm in Dogs
Product Launch
- IDEXX Launches Catalyst proBNP Test for Rapid Cardiac Assessment in Dogs and Cats
Licensing Deal
- ECO Animal Health Licenses Late-Stage Sheep Vaccine Candidate to Combat Toxoplasmosis
Strategic Partnership
- Zomedica Partners With Boehringer Ingelheim to Expand Point-of-Care PPID Testing in Canadian Horses
Boehringer Ingelheim Acquires Evax to Advance Therapeutic Vaccines for Equine Allergies
Strategic Acquisition
BI has acquired Evax AG, a Swiss biotechnology company developing therapeutic vaccines for equine health, to strengthen its pipeline for allergic skin diseases in horses.
Key Highlights
- Evax’s virus-like particle (VLP)-based therapeutic vaccines aim to stimulate the horse’s immune system to produce neutralizing antibodies against disease-related targets, potentially enabling longer-lasting control.
- Addresses a need in equine allergic and dermatologic conditions, where current therapies can require frequent administration, offer only temporary relief, or raise safety concerns with prolonged use.
- Adds VLP technology and expertise to Boehringer’s equine innovation pipeline, complementing prior work in therapeutic vaccines (including the Saiba Animal Health acquisition in 2024).
- Financial terms were not disclosed; further development and clinical evaluation are required to establish safety and effectiveness.
Impact
The acquisition positions Boehringer Ingelheim to pursue more targeted, immune-based therapies for chronic equine allergic skin conditions, potentially reducing treatment frequency and improving long-term disease management. It also reflects broader industry momentum toward therapeutic vaccine platforms that could extend to other chronic diseases in companion animals.
Understanding Separation Anxiety
For some pets, watching their owner walk out the door is more than a moment of sadness. Being left alone can trigger genuine distress, leading to behaviors that may be mistaken for disobedience or boredom. Separation anxiety is a behavioral condition in which a pet becomes anxious when separated from a person or people to whom they are strongly attached.
The signs can vary from pet to pet. Dogs experiencing separation anxiety may bark or howl persistently, pace, pant, destroy furniture, attempt to escape, or urinate or defecate indoors after being left alone. Some become anxious even before their owner leaves, reacting to familiar cues such as picking up keys, putting on shoes, or preparing a bag.
Why does it happen? There isn’t one universal cause. Changes in routine, moving to a new home, being rehomed, losing a family member, or suddenly spending more time alone can contribute to separation-related distress. A pet that became accustomed to constant company may also struggle when that routine changes.
The good news is that separation anxiety can be managed. For milder cases, owners may gradually teach pets that being alone is safe by starting with very short absences and slowly increasing the time apart. Food puzzles and other forms of mental enrichment can also provide positive distractions.
However, more severe anxiety requires patience and professional guidance. Veterinarians or qualified veterinary behavior professionals can help develop a structured behavior-modification plan, and medication may sometimes be considered alongside behavioral therapy.
Most importantly, punishment is not the answer. Destructive behavior, accidents, or excessive vocalization may be expressions of distress rather than deliberate misbehavior. Recognizing the difference can help owners respond with patience—and give their pets a better chance of feeling secure when they’re home alone.
Regulatory Authorization
The US FDA has granted EUA for CLiK Extra (dicyclanil topical suspension) to help prevent New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) infestations in livestock and certain captive and captured wildlife.
Key Highlights
- CLiK Extra is applied on or around wounds (including those associated with birth and surgical procedures) to prevent screwworm larvae from establishing infestations.
- EUA covers cattle, sheep, goats, swine, camelids, captive/captured cervids, American bison, bighorn sheep, and Sonoran pronghorn.
- Authorized for prevention only; animals with active or post-application infestations require alternative treatment.
- Adds to Elanco’s screwworm portfolio, which includes Negasunt Powder and Tanidil (earlier EUAs for prevention and treatment) and EPA-registered Catron IV for treatment in several livestock species.
Impact
The EUA provides producers with an additional preventive tool for high-risk wounds, supporting more comprehensive screwworm management across livestock and wildlife. Combined with early detection, wound care, and veterinary oversight, CLiK Extra can help reduce infestation risk and limit the parasite’s impact on animal health and production.
Regulatory Authorization
The US FDA has granted EUA for Simparica Trio to treat infestations caused by New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae in dogs and puppies.
Key Highlights
- EUA allows Simparica Trio to be used to treat New World screwworm myiasis in dogs and puppies, in addition to its existing monthly chewable indications.
- Simparica Trio is already FDA-approved for heartworm disease, fleas, ticks, roundworms, hookworms, and prevention of flea tapeworm infections via flea control.
- Adds a specific treatment role for an infestation that can cause rapid, severe tissue damage, pain, and potentially death if untreated.
- Part of Zoetis’ broader multi-species response to New World screwworm, with ongoing monitoring and development across companion animals and livestock.
Impact
The EUA provides veterinarians with an additional, integrated tool for managing New World screwworm in dogs already on Simparica Trio, potentially simplifying parasite control during an emerging threat. It also underscores the importance of coordinated prevention, detection, and treatment strategies to limit the parasite’s impact on animal health.
Product Launch
IDEXX has launched the Catalyst proBNP Test, a dual-species, in-clinic quantitative test for NT-proBNP on the Catalyst platform. The assay delivers results during the patient visit, enabling veterinarians to assess cardiac health and make faster decisions
Key Highlights
- Provides quantitative NT-proBNP results in-clinic for dogs and cats, supporting evaluation of heart disease and differentiation of cardiac vs noncardiac respiratory distress.
- Applications include identifying potential subclinical heart disease in cats, assessing likelihood of clinically relevant cardiac changes in small/medium-breed dogs with murmurs, and supporting preoperative and monitoring decisions.
- Results integrate with VetConnect PLUS alongside the patient’s diagnostic history, with built-in interpretive guidance.
- Expected to launch in North America in October 2026, followed by additional international markets, leveraging IDEXX’s ~80,000 installed Catalyst analyzers.
Impact
By bringing point-of-care NT-proBNP testing into routine practice, the test could improve early detection of cardiac disease, streamline preanesthetic screening, and support more timely referrals—particularly in settings with limited access to echocardiography or cardiology specialists.
Licensing Deal
ECO Animal Health has entered into a perpetual exclusive licensing agreement with Vaxinano SAS to develop and commercialize a late-stage vaccine candidate designed to prevent reproductive losses caused by Toxoplasma gondii in sheep.
Key Highlights
- Targets toxoplasmosis, a major cause of abortion, stillbirths, and weak lambs in sheep, with significant economic impact on producers.
- Late-stage development position reduces development risk; ECO will complete development and lead global commercialization in key sheep markets.
- Leverages ECO’s existing commercial, distribution, and R&D infrastructure with no significant increase in planned expenditure.
- ECO estimates potential peak annual sales of approximately £10 million in the UK and Europe alone; the asset is supported by patent protection.
Impact
The license adds a high-potential, late-stage vaccine to ECO’s growing franchise, offering sheep producers a preventive tool to reduce reproductive losses and improve flock productivity. It also accelerates ECO’s strategy to build a scalable, preventive livestock vaccine business ahead of broader commercial rollout.
Strategic Partnership
Zomedica has partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Canada to expand early detection, treatment, and monitoring of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in horses across Canada.
Key Highlights
- Starting fall 2026, participating practices will use TRUFORMA assays for equine eACTH and insulin testing, with eligible Boehringer Ingelheim customers receiving complimentary diagnostic testing.
- Zomedica will support placement of TRUFORMA analyzers in participating equine clinics; practices receive diagnostic cartridge kits at no cost under the program.
- Veterinarians will also be exposed to additional TRUFORMA equine assays, including Cortisol and Progesterone.
- PPID affects an estimated 20–25% of horses over 15 years of age; point-of-care eACTH testing aims to reduce turnaround times versus external laboratories.
Impact
The partnership improves access to timely PPID diagnosis and monitoring for Canadian equine practices, particularly in geographically dispersed regions. For Zomedica, it expands TRUFORMA’s footprint in Canada and deepens its collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim in equine endocrine diagnostics.
Supporting Pets with Separation Anxiety
This edition of AnimalHealthX Weekly explores separation anxiety in pets, helping owners recognize the signs, understand potential triggers, and learn how behavioral support can improve pet wellbeing. The newsletter also covers Boehringer Ingelheim’s acquisition of Evax for equine allergy vaccines, FDA emergency authorizations for CLiK Extra and Simparica Trio against New World screwworm, IDEXX’s Catalyst proBNP cardiac test, ECO Animal Health’s sheep toxoplasmosis vaccine deal, and Zomedica’s partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim for point-of-care PPID testing in Canadian horses.
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