Comparison of Animal Drug Industry to Human Drug Industry
There are important differences between the human and animal drug industries with respect to
prescription portability, distribution channels, and the availability of generics. Some comparisons
between the two markets may help to illuminate the current state of competition in pet
medications.
In the human medications marketplace, patients typically receive portable prescriptions from
their prescribing physicians without having to request them and with no conditions attached.110
Consumers almost always purchase their human medications from someone other than the
prescribing physician.111 In contrast, unlike most human doctor’s offices, veterinary clinics
typically function as one-stop providers of pet care, including not just examination and
diagnosis, but also hospitalization and the dispensing of pet medications. Given this important
distinction in the role veterinarians play, there does not appear to be any significant objection in
the industry to continuing the practice of allowing veterinarians to maintain the right to dispense
pet medications,112 as consumers may prefer in some cases to purchase medication directly from
the care provider, especially for acute care and specialty medications.
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