Viewpoint Archive
AHI Names Gene Harrington Senior Director of State Affairs
WASHINGTON, DC, June 24, 2025 – Animal Health Institute CEO Martha Scott Poindexter today announced Gene Harrington has been named Senior Director, State Affairs. Harrington comes to AHI from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) where he has held a similar position for the past three years. “We are excited to have Gene joining our team,” […]
Jamie Brannan of Zoetis Elected AHI Board Chair
WASHINGTON, DC, May 13, 2025 – The Animal Health Institute’s Board of Directors today elected Jamie Brannan of Zoetis as Board Chair for the remainder of the 2024-26 term. Brannan is Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Zoetis. Richard R. DeLuca, Jr., Executive Vice President and President, Merck Animal Health, becomes Immediate Past […]
Martha Scott Poindexter Appointed CEO of AHI
WASHINGTON, DC, May 6, 2025 – The Animal Health Institute (AHI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Martha Scott Poindexter as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective May 12, 2025. Richard R. DeLuca, Jr., Chair of the AHI Board of Directors and Executive Vice President and President of Merck Animal Health, expressed his enthusiasm: […]
AHI Perspective on FDA Reorganization
April 2, 2025—The animal health industry provides essential medicines to keep both pets and food animals healthy. These products make key contributions to protecting the safety of the food supply and promoting the human-animal bond by enhancing the quality of life for companion animals. In 2021, the US animal health industry produced nearly $14 billion […]
AHI News: Health Threats from Parasites Are Increasing
World Parasite Awareness Day is an Important Step Toward Keeping Pets and People Healthy Washington, D.C. March 20, 2025 – Health leaders from around the world are marking the first ever World Parasite Awareness Day, a collective effort to raise awareness about the increasing threat of parasites to pets and people. Mosquito-borne and tick-borne disease […]
AHI Commends FDA Action to Protect Pet Health
The Animal Health Institute (AHI) commends the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for protecting the health of pets through their recent efforts to enforce laws governing animal medicines. The FDA issued warning letters to six sellers of unapproved animal drugs being illegally marketed with claims to treat seizures. We urge pet owners and veterinarians alike […]
AHI Applauds UN Declaration on AMR
September 27, 2024 The Animal Health Institute (AHI) welcomes the adoption of the United Nations political declaration on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The declaration represents a global consensus for better animal health and disease prevention. Under the One Health approach, actions in animal health, human health and the environment present the best pathway for addressing AMR. […]
AHI Viewpoint: Reducing Antibiotic Resistance Calls for a One Health Approach
Antibiotics are a cornerstone of modern medicine. However, unnecessary use can lead to resistant bacterial infections where antibiotics may no longer work. Solving this challenge cuts across human, environmental, and animal health, and it requires action in all domains. Nearly 200 nations around the world are taking collective action to address the global health challenge […]
AHI Viewpoint: Judicious Use is Helping Reduce the Need for Animal Antibiotics
The animal health industry is committed to researching and producing a full spectrum of veterinary tools that reduce the need for antibiotics. In addition to preventing the diseases that call for antibiotic use, we are working to ensure that when antibiotics are used, they are used judiciously. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has recognized […]
AHI Viewpoint: Disease Prevention is a Proven Pathway to Reducing the Need for Animal Antibiotics
The best strategy for reducing the threat of antimicrobial resistance is to reduce the need for antibiotics through better prevention, earlier detection, and more efficient treatment. Innovations in animal health have improved prevention efforts. For example, accurate diagnostics curb the severity of animal disease by enabling more effective treatments and reducing the need for antibiotics. […]
AHI President & CEO Alex Mathews to Retire
WASHINGTON, DC, July 18, 2024 – Alexander S. Mathews, President and CEO of the Animal Health Institute, has announced his intention to retire from that position at the end of the calendar year. As a result, the Board has initiated a nationwide search for a successor. “The AHI Board extends its deepest gratitude to […]
AHI Statement Regarding FDA-CVM Clarification
July 16, 2024 The Animal Health Institute (AHI) commends the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) for its decisive action in clarifying the prioritization of approved pioneer and generic products by veterinarians and pharmacists before considering compounded or illegally imported products. The use of FDA-approved animal drug products should always be preferred. These […]
Ester Banque of Zoetis Elected AHI Board Chair
The Animal Health Institute’s Board of Directors today elected Ester Banque of Zoetis as Board Chair for the 2024-26 term. Banque is Executive Vice President and President, U.S. Operations for Zoetis.
AHI Position on Arizona’s mRNA Labeling Legislation
AHI encourages Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to veto SB 1146, a bill that disparages life-saving vaccine technology by allowing food products from aquaculture, livestock, and poultry to be labeled “mRNA free” if the animals did not receive mRNA vaccinations.
AHI Welcomes FDA Action on Unapproved Drugs
AHI welcomes the announcement of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) action to issue warning letters to nine manufacturers and distributors who were marketing unapproved and misbranded antimicrobial animal drugs.
Congress Supports Animal Health with Passage of ADUFA
The Animal Health Institute today praised Congress for passing the reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA). ADUFA provides the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) with supplemental industry funds in exchange for meeting agreed-upon performance goals.
Alert: Ticks Can Cause Food Allergies
CDC data reveals that an aggressive tick may be the culprit in the increased instances of alpha-gal syndrome, or red-meat allergy, a potentially life-threatening condition that affects up to 450,000 people in the U.S. Carried by the lone star tick, those with red-meat allergy have reactions to meat such as beef, pork, and lamb. The […]
AHI Asks Congress for Quick Reauthorization of ADUFA
Washington, D.C. – March 30, 2023. The Animal Health Institute (AHI) joined veterinary medical experts to present testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on the reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA). Dr. Rachel Cumberbatch, AHI Director of International and Regulatory Affairs, urged Congress to swiftly reauthorize the bill that enables […]
AHI Supports FDA Restructuring Announcement
January 31, 2023 The Animal Health Institute supports the restructuring announced by Food and Drug Commissioner Robert M. Califf. The new structure maintains the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) as a stand-alone center while coordinating its food safety activities with the new Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods. “This is a practical and common-sense approach that […]
Animal Health Industry Reaches All-time High
A new study from NDP Analytics, The Economic and Social Contributions of the Animal Health Industry, details the growth of the animal health industry over the past three years and documents the value and role that the companies that produce animal medicines play in the U.S. economy and beyond. As other industries struggled because of […]
AHI Names Gene Harrington Senior Director of State Affairs
WASHINGTON, DC, June 24, 2025 – Animal Health Institute CEO Martha Scott Poindexter today announced Gene Harrington has been named Senior Director, State Affairs. Harrington comes to AHI from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) where he has held a similar position for the past three years. “We are excited to have Gene joining our team,” […]
Jamie Brannan of Zoetis Elected AHI Board Chair
WASHINGTON, DC, May 13, 2025 – The Animal Health Institute’s Board of Directors today elected Jamie Brannan of Zoetis as Board Chair for the remainder of the 2024-26 term. Brannan is Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Zoetis. Richard R. DeLuca, Jr., Executive Vice President and President, Merck Animal Health, becomes Immediate Past […]
Martha Scott Poindexter Appointed CEO of AHI
WASHINGTON, DC, May 6, 2025 – The Animal Health Institute (AHI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Martha Scott Poindexter as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective May 12, 2025. Richard R. DeLuca, Jr., Chair of the AHI Board of Directors and Executive Vice President and President of Merck Animal Health, expressed his enthusiasm: […]
AHI Perspective on FDA Reorganization
April 2, 2025—The animal health industry provides essential medicines to keep both pets and food animals healthy. These products make key contributions to protecting the safety of the food supply and promoting the human-animal bond by enhancing the quality of life for companion animals. In 2021, the US animal health industry produced nearly $14 billion […]
AHI News: Health Threats from Parasites Are Increasing
World Parasite Awareness Day is an Important Step Toward Keeping Pets and People Healthy Washington, D.C. March 20, 2025 – Health leaders from around the world are marking the first ever World Parasite Awareness Day, a collective effort to raise awareness about the increasing threat of parasites to pets and people. Mosquito-borne and tick-borne disease […]
AHI Commends FDA Action to Protect Pet Health
The Animal Health Institute (AHI) commends the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for protecting the health of pets through their recent efforts to enforce laws governing animal medicines. The FDA issued warning letters to six sellers of unapproved animal drugs being illegally marketed with claims to treat seizures. We urge pet owners and veterinarians alike […]
AHI Applauds UN Declaration on AMR
September 27, 2024 The Animal Health Institute (AHI) welcomes the adoption of the United Nations political declaration on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The declaration represents a global consensus for better animal health and disease prevention. Under the One Health approach, actions in animal health, human health and the environment present the best pathway for addressing AMR. […]
AHI Viewpoint: Reducing Antibiotic Resistance Calls for a One Health Approach
Antibiotics are a cornerstone of modern medicine. However, unnecessary use can lead to resistant bacterial infections where antibiotics may no longer work. Solving this challenge cuts across human, environmental, and animal health, and it requires action in all domains. Nearly 200 nations around the world are taking collective action to address the global health challenge […]
AHI Viewpoint: Judicious Use is Helping Reduce the Need for Animal Antibiotics
The animal health industry is committed to researching and producing a full spectrum of veterinary tools that reduce the need for antibiotics. In addition to preventing the diseases that call for antibiotic use, we are working to ensure that when antibiotics are used, they are used judiciously. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has recognized […]
AHI Viewpoint: Disease Prevention is a Proven Pathway to Reducing the Need for Animal Antibiotics
The best strategy for reducing the threat of antimicrobial resistance is to reduce the need for antibiotics through better prevention, earlier detection, and more efficient treatment. Innovations in animal health have improved prevention efforts. For example, accurate diagnostics curb the severity of animal disease by enabling more effective treatments and reducing the need for antibiotics. […]
AHI President & CEO Alex Mathews to Retire
WASHINGTON, DC, July 18, 2024 – Alexander S. Mathews, President and CEO of the Animal Health Institute, has announced his intention to retire from that position at the end of the calendar year. As a result, the Board has initiated a nationwide search for a successor. “The AHI Board extends its deepest gratitude to […]
AHI Statement Regarding FDA-CVM Clarification
July 16, 2024 The Animal Health Institute (AHI) commends the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) for its decisive action in clarifying the prioritization of approved pioneer and generic products by veterinarians and pharmacists before considering compounded or illegally imported products. The use of FDA-approved animal drug products should always be preferred. These […]
Ester Banque of Zoetis Elected AHI Board Chair
The Animal Health Institute’s Board of Directors today elected Ester Banque of Zoetis as Board Chair for the 2024-26 term. Banque is Executive Vice President and President, U.S. Operations for Zoetis.
AHI Position on Arizona’s mRNA Labeling Legislation
AHI encourages Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to veto SB 1146, a bill that disparages life-saving vaccine technology by allowing food products from aquaculture, livestock, and poultry to be labeled “mRNA free” if the animals did not receive mRNA vaccinations.
AHI Welcomes FDA Action on Unapproved Drugs
AHI welcomes the announcement of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) action to issue warning letters to nine manufacturers and distributors who were marketing unapproved and misbranded antimicrobial animal drugs.
Congress Supports Animal Health with Passage of ADUFA
The Animal Health Institute today praised Congress for passing the reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA). ADUFA provides the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) with supplemental industry funds in exchange for meeting agreed-upon performance goals.
Alert: Ticks Can Cause Food Allergies
CDC data reveals that an aggressive tick may be the culprit in the increased instances of alpha-gal syndrome, or red-meat allergy, a potentially life-threatening condition that affects up to 450,000 people in the U.S. Carried by the lone star tick, those with red-meat allergy have reactions to meat such as beef, pork, and lamb. The […]
AHI Asks Congress for Quick Reauthorization of ADUFA
Washington, D.C. – March 30, 2023. The Animal Health Institute (AHI) joined veterinary medical experts to present testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on the reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA). Dr. Rachel Cumberbatch, AHI Director of International and Regulatory Affairs, urged Congress to swiftly reauthorize the bill that enables […]
AHI Supports FDA Restructuring Announcement
January 31, 2023 The Animal Health Institute supports the restructuring announced by Food and Drug Commissioner Robert M. Califf. The new structure maintains the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) as a stand-alone center while coordinating its food safety activities with the new Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods. “This is a practical and common-sense approach that […]
Animal Health Industry Reaches All-time High
A new study from NDP Analytics, The Economic and Social Contributions of the Animal Health Industry, details the growth of the animal health industry over the past three years and documents the value and role that the companies that produce animal medicines play in the U.S. economy and beyond. As other industries struggled because of […]