August 28, 2009, Rutherford, N.J. – As concerns about diversion and counterfeiting of veterinary products continues to soar, and sales and profits are being diverted outside the veterinary channel, Ceva is maintaining its commitment to keep their Vectra® products, and the health and safety of pets, in the hands of veterinary professionals. Through their Bloodhound® Technology, a unique track-and-trace barcode system, the company ensures product authenticity and veterinary exclusivity of all its products: Vectra 3D®, Vectra® for Cats & Kittens, Vectra for Cats®, and Vectra® for Dogs & Puppies.

In 2009 alone, Ceva has identified twenty-six instances where Vectra® products have been found outside the veterinary channel. Ceva has taken swift action against these product diverters and out of the twenty-six cases that have occurred in 2009, twenty-three have been resolved with three currently pending.

“This is in clear violation of the company’s anti-diversion agreements,” said Tom Brodowski, Senior Director of Operations at Ceva. “The anti-diversion agreements are contracts signed between veterinarians and Ceva that require that the veterinarian and their practices agree to sell and distribute products only to pet owners where a veterinary-pet relationship has been established.”

Bloodhound Technology was used to identify a shrinkage problem at Valdosta Veterinary Hospital PC in Valdosta, GA. The clinic’s owner, Dr. Joe Crane, DVM, explains, “Ceva and their Bloodhound Technology not only identified that I had a shrinkage problem in my clinic, but also provided all the necessary information to properly address both the internal and external individuals responsible for the product diversion.” He continues, “Throughout the investigation, I was amazed how Bloodhound traced the product from my practice in Valdosta, Georgia all the way up through Ontario, Canada where the product was being sold illegally. In addition, Ceva recovered the diverted product and returned it to me. No company other than Ceva has ever provided this technology and service to me. I was probably losing thousand of dollars in sales of flea and tick control products until Ceva’s intervention.”

“Veterinarians are highly concerned about diversion of flea and tick products, as well as other animal health products,” explains Julia Stephanus, Ceva's Vice President of Global Companion Animal Marketing. “One of the core principles upon which our company was founded was the commitment to ensure that our products are developed and made available exclusively through licensed, practicing veterinarians. By securing our supply chain, we are able to protect the veterinary professional and their patients by maintaining authenticity of our products, and enhance the role of veterinarians in the lives of the animals they treat.”

Michael Good, DVM, primary practitioner and owner of Town & Country Veterinary Clinic in Marietta, GA, as well as the owner of Town & Country East, Town & Country West, Town & Country North, Town & Country South and Acres Mill Animal Hospital in Georgia, is extremely pleased with the whole line of Vectra® products and how they are tracked by Bloodhound® Technology. “As a practitioner, our priority as a doctor is to provide the best medicine for our patients. With Vectra®, I am able to supply my clients with a safe, efficacious product that I know my clients will only be able to obtain through my practice,” explains Dr. Good. He concludes, “By being kept in the loop with Ceva’s Bloodhound® Technology, I have satisfied clients and protected my patients.”

Although track and trace technology on packaging is not new, what is important is that Ceva is committed to enforcement. Whenever the Company has discovered product being sold outside the veterinary channel, it has acted swiftly to ensure the product is removed from sale. Using Bloodhound® Technology allows Ceva to trace each package of Vectra® from the point of manufacture to the veterinary purchase.

Vectra® products are available to veterinarians through Ceva and Abbott Animal Health sales representatives, as well as from the following distributors: DVM Resources (a division of AHI), Henry Schein Animal Health, Merritt Veterinary Supplies, Inc., Midwest Veterinary Supply, Inc., NLS Animal Health, PCI Animal Health, Sanum Puerto Rico, Victor Medical Company and Webster Veterinary. For more information about the entire family of Vectra® vectoricides, visit www.VectraPet.com.

About Ceva Animal Health: Ceva’s key companion animal products include the Vectra® line of parasiticides, D.A.P.® and Feliway® pheromone behavior aids and Senilife® neuroprotection for aging pets.  Ceva Biomune’s key poultry products include CEVAC® Transmune IBD, Vectormune® FP and Vectormune® HVT.  Ceva Biomune Campus and the North America Zone headquarters are both located in Lenexa, Kansas.  Visit www.ceva.us.

About Ceva Santé Animale: Ceva’s parent company is a global veterinary health company focused on the research, development, production and marketing of pharmaceutical products and vaccines for pets, livestock, swine and poultry.  Its headquarters is in Libourne, France. Visit www.ceva.com.

For more information, please contact Carolyn Gilliland at carolyn.gilliland[at]ceva.com or 913.945.4448.

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