Zoetis to acquire pet care genetics company Basepaws

Logos provided by Zoetis and Basepaws

Zoetis announced it will acquire Basepaws —a pet care genetics company known for its comprehensive feline DNA test and at-home oral microbiome assessment. Zoetis—a global animal health company—says Basepaws’ feline genomic and oral microbiome database will improve its research and development efforts in precision medicine. The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed at this time.

The driving factor behind the acquisition is Basepaws’ feline genetic database and screening tools, most notably the Breed + Health Cat DNA Test. This assessment provides results for more than 65 markers for genetic health conditions and 50 genetic markers for traits. The company touts this test as an aid in the early detection of disease risk in animals. Basepaws also possesses “one of the world’s largest” feline genomic and oral microbiome databases, according to a press release from Zoetis.¹

“The Basepaws team has done an amazing job demonstrating how genetic testing and data can improve how we care for the pets in our lives,” said Abhay Nayak, executive vice president of strategy, accelerated growth businesses and commercial development at Zoetis. “With the addition of Basepaws, Zoetis will continue to strengthen our portfolio of products for precision animal health, across genetics, diagnostics, and data analytics for pets and livestock. We are also excited by how Basepaws’ feline genomic and microbiome database will help enhance our research and development capabilities and inform the future of our pet care pipeline.”

Both companies say that the partnership will enhance their research capability and ability to innovate on products and services going forward. As Zoetis acquires Basepaws’ extensive genomic databases, they have the deep pockets of a multibillion-dollar, Fortune 500 company to potentially further fund and drive research in this segment.

“Basepaws and Zoetis both consist of pet lovers with a passion for science, and our mission is to create better and longer lives for our pets through knowledge and data,” said Basepaws CEO Anna Skaya, who founded the company in 2017. “We look forward to expanding our business and the impact of our genetic products with the global scale and research and development experience of Zoetis, the world leader in animal health. We believe that together we can bring the benefits of a more proactive healthcare approach to pet parents around the world.”

Reference

Zoetis Announces Agreement to Acquire Basepaws, an Innovative Leader in Petcare Genetics, to Strengthen its Portfolio of Precision Animal Health Solutions. Business Wire. June 7, 2022. Accessed June 7, 2022