Spending increases on animal health products
Americans increased their spending on animal health products by almost 10 percent in 2006, according to the Animal Health Institute's Market Sales Report. Sales of biologics increased almost 12 percent, with sales of pharmaceuticals rising about 10 percent and sales of feed additives rising about 5 percent. Health products for companion animals accounted for about 53 percent of total sales. The Animal Health Institute, which represents U.S. manufacturers of animal health products, also recently released the latest AHI Research and Development Survey. The survey found that, in 2006, member companies spent 7 percent more on researching and developing new products and maintaining the longevity of existing products. About 86 percent of total spending on research and development went toward work on new products. Spending on R&D rose the most in the biologics category. Also in 2006, AHI member companies increased by 8.2 percent the volume of antimicrobials they sold for animals in the United States. Two classes of compounds, ionophores and tetracyclines, accounted for most of the increase. Antimicrobials for promoting growth accounted for 4.6 percent of total volume. | ||