Who We Are
Focused on the connection between humans and animals
We love animals, and the human-animal bond is stronger than ever before. As we grow more attached to animals, we are in closer contact with them, and this shared environment makes preventing and treating animal diseases especially important because humans and animals can share illness.
The Animal Health Institute represents the companies that develop and produce animal medicines. Our industry is a global leader whose products improve the health of nearly 10 billion companion and food-producing animals in the U.S., which results in significant economic and social benefits for Americans.
What We Do
Dedicated to keeping animals healthy
Pet lovers, veterinarians, and farmers and ranchers rely on our medicines to ensure animal welfare, prevent diseases from passing between animals and humans, and protect our food supply. We develop and produce three types of animal medicines:
- Biologics, which are predominately vaccines. Vaccines reduce suffering in pets by preventing diseases like rabies, parvovirus, distemper, and hepatitis, which also makes it safer for us to live in close contact with animals. Vaccines that inoculate flocks and herds against diseases like rotavirus, E. coli, pinkeye, and brucellosis improve animal welfare while keeping the food supply safer.
- Pharmaceuticals, which are often administered by veterinarians. Pharmaceuticals help animals live longer, higher quality lives by addressing infections, diabetes, obesity, pain, cancer, and age-related diseases. They include anti-inflammatory medications, anesthetics, pain medications, antibiotics, and specialized products for managing reproductive, cardiovascular, or metabolic conditions.
- Flea and tick medications. These medicines prevent outbreaks and infestations that lead to itchy discomfort or more serious diseases like anemia and Lyme disease
Member Directory & International Affiliates
Member Directory
Our members invest in, manufacture, and distribute innovative health solutions that keep animals healthy.
Licensed Members
Our members make medicines that are approved by regulatory agencies, including the FDA (pharmaceuticals), the USDA (biologics/vaccines) and the EPA (insecticides/flea and tick).
- American Regent is a top-10 injectable manufacturer with sales of over $1 Billion. Our growing business is comprised of generic and branded injectables, as well as leading branded IV iron therapies. We hold the leading position for the majority of the products in our portfolio.
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
- The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Founded in 1885, the family owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
- CEVA offers a growing line of products to meet the health needs of companion animals, poultry, and swine. Their expertise centers on the two fields of Pharmacology and biology, where they have dedicated teams that aim to meet the specific demands of each species.
- Colorado Serum Company was founded in 1923, and recently entered its fourth generation of family ownership. Specializing in the manufacturing of quality USDA-licensed large animal biologicals, Colorado Serum Company’s product line includes serum antibodies, bacterins, toxoids, bacterin-toxoids, antitoxins, spore, and modified live vaccines.
- A business unit of Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC, Dechra Veterinary Products specializes in the development and marketing of licensed branded pharmaceuticals. Employing around 212 people, Dechra operates in eleven European countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finalnd, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the UK as well as in the US.
- ECO Animal Health specializes in the development and marketing of high quality medicines for the control of disease in livestock and companion animals. Through the careful and responsible application of science, ECO Animal Health delivers products to promote animal well-being and sustainable productivity. The company now holds over 600 marketing authorizations, in over 50 countries, and has developed strong relationships with a number of distribution partners globally.
- Elanco Animal Health is a global leader in animal health dedicated to innovating and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets, creating value for farmers, pet owners, veterinarians, stakeholders, and society as a whole. With nearly 70 years of animal health heritage, the company is committed to helping customers improve the health of animals in their care, while also making a meaningful impact on our local and global communities. Elanco is driven by the vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and the approach to sustainability, Elanco Healthy Purpose™– all to advance the health of animals, people, the planet and the company enterprise.
- Huvepharma® is a fast-growing, global pharmaceutical company with a focus on developing, manufacturing and marketing human and animal behavioral health and nutrition products. These pillars are the basis of our company name, Huvepharma®. HUman and VEterinary PHARMAceuticals.
- Medgene Labs helps veterinarians and producers protect livestock with precisely constructed immunological products and services.
- Merck Animal Health is a global, research-driven company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of veterinary medicines and services. The company offers one of the industry’s most innovative portfolios, spanning products for the prevention, treatment and control of disease in all major farm and companion animal species. With offices in more than 50 countries, Merck Animal Health successfully markets its products in over 140 countries, and operates a network of manufacturing sites and research and development facilities around the world.
- Based in Lansing, Michigan, Neogen’s Animal Safety Division manufactures and markets diagnostics, veterinary instruments, veterinary pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, disinfectants, and rodenticides.
Phibro Animal Health Corporation
- PAHC is a diversified global manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of animal health and nutrition products to the poultry, swine and cattle markets. PAHC is also a manufacturer and marketer of performance products for the ethanol, wood preservation and personal care industries.
- Vetoquinol is a dedicated family of caring professionals creating industry leading products, services and financial results. Driven by purpose, guided by values, we proudly provide life-enhancing solutions for animals and the people who care for them.
- Virbac was one of the first independent laboratories anywhere in the world dedicated exclusively to animal health. Virbac products and services designed for veterinarians and animal owners constitute a large, complete and effective range of products, including vaccines, parasiticides, dermatological products and antibiotics. Commercially present in over 100 countries and owning 26 subsidiaries outside France, Virbac today employs more than 2,900 people around the world.
- VMRD develops and manufactures veterinary diagnostic test kits and related reagents for distribution in more than 77 countries. VMRD’s services division performs specialized testing of raw materials, cells and seeds for the presence of adventitious agents to satisfy various regulatory requirements and quality assurance needs for the global serum, veterinary and pharmaceutical industries.
- As the world’s leading animal health company, we exist to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. With 70 years of experience innovating a leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and technologies, we stand by those caring for animals by providing solutions worldwide.
Affiliate Members
Our affiliate members provide research and laboratory services to the animal health industry or are actively working toward approval of animal health products.
International Affiliates
AHI has a strong international presence as a member of HealthforAnimals, which is the global representative body of companies engaged in research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of veterinary medicines, vaccines and other animal health products in developed and developing countries across the globe. HealthforAnimals represents global animal health companies and animal health associations worldwide.
Additionally, the following international organizations play a significant role in developing guidelines and standards for the international regulation of animal medicines:
- The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) was established in 1963 under the auspices of two United Nations organizations – the Food and Agricultural Organization, based in Rome, and the World Health Organization (WHO), based in Geneva. The primary mandate of the CAC is protecting the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in the food trade. More than 170 countries, as well as numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs), participate in Codex activities. NGOs must have an international presence; therefore, the International Federation of Animal Health represents the animal health industry in Codex. AHI participates in Codex activities as a member of HealthforAnimals.
Food and Agriculture Organization
- The Food and Agriculture Organization jointly administers the Codex program along with the World Health Organization. The Codex Executive Secretary and staff are administratively and physically located in FAO’s offices in Rome. The FAO contributes approximately 80 percent of the operating budget of Codex, and also provides one of the two Secretariat positions on the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives.
Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives
- The Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) provides the independent, scientific advice to Codex members and subsidiary bodies. JECFA is actually older than Codex, and initially provided advice to the FAO and the WHO on the safety of food additives. The role of JECFA has expanded from food additives to now include contaminants, flavorings and veterinary drugs. The FAO and the WHO choose the members of the JECFA on the basis of the expertise required. The members of the JECFA are selected for each meeting based on expertise and geographical representation; the committee is dissolved after each meeting.
The World Organization for Animal Health
- One hundred years ago, 28 founding nations came together to address a shared purpose – the health and well-being of animals. From setting standards to amplifying the voice of the veterinary workforce in the global health agenda, we reflect on our journey: a century of improving animal health and welfare.
- The World Health Organization is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries, and monitoring and assessing health trends.
- The World Trade Organization (WTO) administers the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) agreements. Member governments of the WTO have recourse to WTO dispute settlement procedures in order to resolve trade issues arising from these agreements. The SPS and TBT Agreements specifically direct member governments to utilize Codex standards and texts in making decisions under these agreements. One of the first disputes involving the SPS Agreement – the beef hormone dispute between the U.S. and the EU – involved residues of veterinary drugs. This case is still being arbitrated by the WTO.
- The International Cooperation on Harmonization of Technical Requirement for Registration of Veterinary Products (VICH) started in 1995. The purpose of VICH is to coordinate veterinary medicine registration in three regions: the EU, Japan and the U.S. Australian/New Zealand and Canada are observer nations. One of the primary benefits of VICH is the assurance it provides an animal health company that a study conforming to the requirements in one of the three regions will be acceptable in the other regions. VICH is governed by a steering committee that consists of both industry and government representatives from the three regions, as well as the observer countries. The steering committee implements VICH goals through the establishment of expert working groups. In the short time since its formation, the VICH has developed over 40 guidelines that are accepted by the regions and the observers. The OIE is an active member of the steering committee, and encourages all its members to adopt VICH guidelines when appropriate.
Contact Us
Staff Directory
Liz Breckenridge
Senior Director, Administration & Finance
lbreckenridge@ahi.org
Mobile: (202) 285-2376
Rachel Cumberbatch, DVM
Vice President, Scientific, Regulatory and International Affairs
rcumberbatch@ahi.org
Direct Line: (202) 662-4137
Fax: (202) 393-1667
David Dixon
Manager, Office Operations
DDixon@ahi.org
Main number: (202) 637-2440
Marie Gilmore
Manager, Meetings and Administration
MGilmore@ahi.org
Main number: (202) 637-2440
Mandy Hagan, JD
Director, State Affairs
ahagan@ahi.org
Main number: (202) 256-6503
Alexander S. Mathews
President & CEO
AMathews@ahi.org
Main number: (202) 637-2440
Mary Jane “MJ” McNamee, JD, VMD
Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs
mjmcnamee@ahi.org
Mobile: (202) 340-3587
Ronald B. Phillips
Senior Vice President, Policy
RPhillips@ahi.org
Main number: (202) 637-2440
Carl Raker
Manager, Regulatory Affairs
CRaker@ahi.org
Direct Line: (202) 662-4131
Ginny Siller
Director, Government Affairs
GSiller@ahi.org
Main number: (202) 637-2440
Fax: (202) 393-1667