Would You Give Your Pets Generics?

The Cost of Pet Care, Part V

Dude, a black cat from an east New York City shelter was the inspiration for starting Putney, Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on the development of generic drugs for pets. It was just 10 years ago, when Dude was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, a condition that’s common in older cats. The good news is that it’s treatable with a single pill given daily.

At the time, Jean Hoffman, Dude’s owner, could afford the $720 a year for the daily medication. “I was lucky,” says Hoffman, “I could afford $60 a month for Dude”s treatment, but what about other families?”

Many pets are given people medications.

With a background in the pharmaceutical industry for people, Jean decided to launch Putney, Inc., so pet owners could purchase lower priced generics. “When I started Putney in 2006, there were not only few generic choices, but not many drugs approved for pets in palatable formations–especially for cats.”

Putney is working to create a flavored tablet that appeals to cats. (Ever tried giving a cat medication? They can scarf down an entire meal and leave the buried tablet behind in the bowl.)

Veterinarians Often Prescribe Human Meds
“Because there are relatively few drugs for cats, in particular, feline vets prescribe a lot of human drugs to treat cats,” says Jean. (When one of my cats developed an under active thyroid, he got the same meds as me.)

“Our market research shows that vets believe that 88 percent of pet owners want generic drugs for their pets,” says Jean. “And 94 percent of drugs that are FDA approved for pets have no generic equivalent.”

“It is our mission,” says Jean, “to develop and sell generics to vets so that they can pass that savings onto pet owners.” Generics are only available at veterinary offices.

Last June, Putney developed Carprofen, a generic version of Rimadyl. Both of these drugs are used to relieve pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, as well as the control of post-operative pain associated with soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries.

Based in Portland, ME, Putney is working to develop more generic medications for dogs and cats. It’s a time consuming process because of the strict FDA guidelines,” says Jean. “What I’m seeing is that veterinarians and their patients are quite enthusiastic about generics–particularly in this tough economy.”

More on the Cost of Pet Care
Wednesday’s post covered stem cell and platelet therapies that cost less than invasive surgeries. Also covered are stories about pet health insurance, why vets charge what they do, and some of your reactions to the cost of pet health care.