As pets live longer and become increasingly central to family life, animal health is evolving beyond treatment alone toward a broader focus on prevention, mobility, behavior, and quality of life. On a different note, the society has more expectations on maintaining the livestock animals in good health, respect and ideal welfare. This shift reflects a deeper understanding that the health of animals, humans, and ecosystems is closely interconnected, an idea now widely known as the One Health approach.

It is also a vision that Pierre-Richard Dick carried as early as 1968, when he founded Virbac in the south of France with the ambition to bridge gaps in animal health care. More than fifty years later, the company has become the world’s sixth-largest animal health player, operating in over 100 countries and supported by nearly 650 researchers worldwide.

Virbac has built a trajectory marked by continuous scientific breakthroughs. Behind this innovation cycle lies a constant objective: improving the everyday health and wellbeing of animals and strengthening the bond between animals and the people who care for them. In the context of Virbac development and expansion into new strategic areas, this perspective will be further explored with Fabrice Payot, Vice President of New Business at Virbac US. Drawing on over 25 years of experience in animal health, spanning veterinary practice, R&D, and global marketing, he now leads the development of new business ventures in areas such as pet food and livestock health in the US, working closely with commercial teams to drive innovation and strengthen Virbac’s market position.

Q. Virbac was founded with the ambition to bridge gaps in animal health care. Today, with operations in more than 100 countries and a portfolio covering both pets and livestock health, from pet food to vaccines, how would you describe Virbac’s mission in today’s rapidly evolving veterinary ecosystem?

A. At its core, Virbac remains a 100% independent, family-driven company, a legacy that has defined our DNA since 1968. Our fundamental purpose is to advance the health of animals alongside those who care for them every day, ensuring that we can all live better together.

This mission is more relevant than ever as we embrace the “One Health” approach, which recognizes that the health of animals, humans, and our shared ecosystems are fundamentally interconnected.

To fulfill this, we focus on providing a comprehensive range of solutions, from vaccines and pharmaceuticals to specialized nutrition and pet supplements that respect the profound nature of the animal. We aren’t just treating disease; we are working to strengthen the bond between animals and people. This means investing in nearly 650 researchers worldwide to create scientific breakthroughs that improve everyday health and well-being, whether on a family sofa or a sustainable farm.

In North America and in the US in particular, more than 300 colleagues work at Virbac Corp in a fully integrated affiliate from research and development to sales and marketing, from industrial operations to supply chain management. We strive to grow taking into consideration the specificities of the US market both on companion animals – veterinary products, pet supplements, pet food – and on livestock.

Q. Virbac is present across all five continents, and the United States is one of the largest companion animal health markets in the world. How does the American market differ from Europe and other regions in terms of veterinary innovation, pet ownership trends, and expectations from veterinarians and pet owners?

A. The U.S. market is uniquely dynamic, characterized by a massive $62 billion segment for pet food and supplements alone, combined to a $12 billion segment for the pharmaceuticals and vaccines solutions. It has evolved into a truly omnichannel environment where pet owners expect the convenience of online delivery and specialized retail alongside traditional clinical visits. However, despite this digital shift, the veterinarian remains the most trusted professional for advice on health, wellness, and nutrition.

In the US, pets are increasingly viewed as integral family members, which has shifted our strategy toward proactive, complete care. By working closely with veterinarians and providing a comprehensive range of nutritional and pharmaceutical solutions, we develop protocols that preserve this human-animal relationship through every stage of an animal’s life.

For example, our approach to mobility focuses on preserving the pet’s quality of life as they age. We recently introduced a first-of-its-kind muscle strength and mobility supplement to help pets recover from surgery or combat age-related muscle loss, pairing it with specialized pet food to manage weight and with a joint supplement. By connecting these dots, better joints, leaner muscles, and healthy weight, we help preserve the great bond that allows pets and people to stay active together.

To support this further, we have partnered with the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), an organization that serves as the primary global authority for the science, education, and advocacy of the human-animal bond.

HABRI’s core mission is to establish the vital role that the bond between people and animals plays in the health and well-being of individuals, families, and entire communities. They achieve this through a “science-first” approach, maintaining the world’s most comprehensive online library of human-animal interaction research and rigorous studies that provide a solid evidence base for the health benefits.

By training professionals to better understand and communicate these proven mental and physical health benefits, we ensure they are equipped to support the modern American family and advocate for a “pet-friendly” society. Ultimately, this collaboration helps create a world where the human-animal bond is universally embraced as an essential element of human health and wellness.

Q. Finally, we have discussed innovation and the strong investments Virbac makes in research and development. Looking ahead, what could animal health look like in ten years, and what role does Virbac hope to play in shaping that future?

A. The next decade will be defined by the dual challenge of enhancing the lives of our companion animals while sustainably feeding a growing global population thanks to livestock. The changes already happening today, like the multiple channels of distribution of the animal health products, the home delivery of all the goods, the AI revolution on our day to day life including the animal health sciences, will continue to shape the business in the next decade.

In the pet sector, innovation will move toward more “long-acting” solutions, shifting from daily pills to annual injections, advanced diagnostics AI driven, new treatments for chronic diseases (diabetes, hyperthyroidism, obesity are some examples) and more importantly cancers. Virbac is already at the forefront of these shifts, expanding our direct relationship with pet owners through their veterinarians to ensure these innovations are accessible.

On the livestock side, the focus will shift even more toward sustainability and the “One Health” approach. Animal health is a critical, yet often overlooked, component of the global climate agenda.

According to HealthforAnimals, animal health products and technologies have the potential to reduce livestock emissions by up to 23% by increasing productivity and reducing resource waste. Virbac aims to help close this gap by demonstrating that healthier animals require fewer resources to produce the same amount of protein. In the U.S., where beef quality is world-class, we are expanding our four-year-old livestock venture started with antibiotics to provide new vaccines and alternative to antibiotics. By keeping livestock healthier, we produce more food with fewer diseased animals, which is a cornerstone of a sustainable future.

Eventually Virbac aims to become the partner of choice of the animal health and nutrition professionals.