Volume 16, Number 3 November 1997

From The President

am pleased to announce the appointment of the following chairpersons of the AAVPT standing committees. It is such volunteerism that makes our academy uniquely effective.

Finance and Budget Committee

R. Gene White

Membership and Bylaws Committee

Michael D. Apley

Program Committee

Scott A. Brown

Professional Liaison Committee

Dawn M. Boothe

Long Range Planning Committee

Daniel A. Gingerich

Drug Availability and Food Safety Committee

Arthur C. Craigmill

Education Committee

Gordon L. Coppoc

Awards Committee

Carl A. Osborne

AAVPT Newsletter Committee

Carl E. Aronson

JVPT Editorial Board

Arthur L. Aronson

I have not appointed a chairperson for the Examination Committee, which I have placed on inactive status. The Professional Examination Service responsible for the National Board Exam currently prefers to obtain questions from veterinary clinicians in academia rather than professional associations representing specific academic disciplines such as pharmacology.

I wish to thank the past chairpersons, and particularly those that I have pressed into service for a second term, for their time and efforts to the benefit of the AAVPT. Further, I wish to thank Dan Gingerich for his past service as unofficial comptroller of the Academy's investments; I anticipate that the constitution and bylaws amendments will soon be passed by the membership, which will give the comptroller position official status.

Thanks to the efforts of Scott Brown, Mark Papich, Rick Vulliet and their committee members a very full and interesting sequence of AAVPT symposia and programs are under development. These include a Special Symposium on antimicrobial drug resistance in January in Washington, D.C., a joint program of the AAVPT/ACVCP on the evaluation of drug efficacy at the ACVIM Forum in San Diego in May, the Biennial Symposium of the AAVPT addressing drug disposition and efficacy in June in Monterey, and an AAVPT program to be developed for the national meeting of the AVMA in July (see further details in the following pages of this newsletter).

I wish to direct your attention to the "request for nominations for AAVPT awards" on page two in this newsletter. Over the past years, three new awards in recognition of exemplary teaching, research and service have been approved and this is the first year that the Awards Committee is requesting nominations for those awards. I ask the membership to review all five of the AAVPT awards available and to nominate those stellar individuals so deserving of recognition. (I also unashamedly request our members in the pharmaceutical industry to consider the opportunity of sponsoring one or more of these awards in the name of their company. What better way to express appreciation to this Academy which has served so well over the years as a common meeting ground for those in industry, government, and academia to study and resolve issues involving veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics.)

During the coming fall and spring, I will be initiating a study of the dues structure of the AAVPT in conjunction with the Membership and Bylaws Committee, the Long Range Planning Committee, and the AAVPT Council, as well as ACVCP Council. Some of the issues which will be addressed are an increase in dues to both meet the $10,000 annual payment by the AAVPT supporting the publication of the JVPT, and to provide each of our members with an annual subscription to the JVPT, our Academy's official publication. I believe that AAVPT dues should also provide special consideration for those who are members of both the AAVPT and ACVCP. And finally, there is need for some part-time secretarial assistance to ease the burden of the AAVPT Secretary/Treasurer. I encourage the membership to contact me or others in this paragraph with their thoughts and suggestions concerning a possible dues increase.

I have been informed by Art Aronson of his wish to serve as editor of the JVPT until the end of his term December 31, 1998, and of his desire that his successor be identified by the time of the Biennial Symposium in June, 1998. Accordingly, I invite the Fellows of the Academy to provide nominations to me for subsequent consideration and selection by the AAVPT Council. On behalf of the Academy, I thank Art for his efforts which have made the JVPT the leading journal, both nationally and internationally, for publications in veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics.

- Gary Koritz

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Secretary-Treasurer's Report

he weather is getting cooler (at least in the Northeast!), so it's time for an AAVPT ballot and dues reminder. Dues will again be only $35 for Fellows, $20 for Associate Fellows, and $10 for Student Members. If you want to write your check right now, please make it payable to AAVPT. The envelope should be addressed to me (please make sure my name shows to ensure delivery) at Pfizer, Eastern Point Rd., Groton, CT 06340.

It's also time to renew or start a new subscription to the Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. For 1998, the subscription price will be $60.00 (a $5 increase over last year). If you are interested in previous issues in 1997 (for $55.00), please let me know by writing, calling (860-441-7361) or the best way is by e-mail (jernia@pfizer.com).

Please don't forget about a contribution to the Awards fund. We have written guidelines for Student, Research, Teaching, and Service awards, and are very excited about this aspect of recognition from AAVPT. We appreciate all the member support for the awards.

The ballot you will be receiving will be for the proposed changes to the Constitution and Bylaws. Please be sure to read about them in this issue of the Newsletter.

We have $3,735.46 in the checking account, thanks to an infusion due to balancing of the awards funds by Comptroller Dan Gingerich. We are in good financial shape, and look forward to being active in promoting veterinary pharmacology through symposia and other events. Regarding symposia, I think that Rick Vulliet and committee have put together a great agenda at a superb location (Asilomar) in California for our Biennial meeting June 14-18. This is one Biennial meeting not to miss! Let's try to recruit new members in time for them to attend the meeting too. If you need an application form, please let me know.

- Ann Jernigan

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Request For Nominations For 5 AAVPT Awards (Deadline December 31, 1997)
Lloyd E. Davis Award

he Awards Committee seeks nominations for the Lloyd E. Davis Award. This prestigious honor is presented for outstanding contributions to the advancement and extension of knowledge in the fields of veterinary or comparative pharmacology. There are no restrictions regarding age, institutional affiliations, or nationality of the candidate, and membership in the AAVPT is not required. Nominations must be made and seconded by at least two members of AAVPT and should consist of letters describing the major research publications, educational accomplishments, and other scholarly contributions which make the candidate eligible for the award. The dossier must include a complete curriculum vitae. To ensure consideration, six copies of all information must be submitted to the Chair of the Awards Committee no later than December 31, 1997. Presentation of the award will be made at the Biennial Symposium in June, 1998, at which time the recipient will be invited to deliver the Lloyd E. Davis Lecture. The award will consist of a commemorative medallion/plaque, roundtrip transportation, meeting registration, hotel room, and a check for $750.

AAVPT Service, Teaching and Research Awards

The Awards Committee seeks nominations for the AAVPT Service, Teaching and Research Awards. The AAVPT Service Award is presented to recognize significant service to the fields of veterinary or comparative pharmacology, or therapeutics; the decision shall be based on exceptional and sustained service, either to AAVPT or to the profession of veterinary or comparative pharmacology, or therapeutics, at large. The AAVPT Teaching Award is presented to recognize significant teaching activities in the fields of veterinary or comparative pharmacology, or therapeutics; the decision shall be based on a sustained record of distinguished teaching in veterinary or comparative pharmacology, or therapeutics. The AAVPT Research Award is presented to recognize significant research contributions to the fields of veterinary or comparative pharmacology, or therapeutics; the decision shall be based on distinguished contributions to scholarly research in veterinary or comparative pharmacology, or therapeutics. The awards will consist of a commemorative plaque, meeting registration , hotel room, and a check for $500 to be presented at the Biennial Symposium in June, 1998. There are no restrictions regarding age, gender, institutional affiliation/employment, race or nationality of candidates who need not be members of the AAVPT. Nominations shall be made and seconded by no fewer than two members of the AAVPT. Nominations shall consist of a curriculum vitae and no fewer than two letters of recommendation/support describing the contributions which make the candidate eligible. Supporting documentation is encouraged. Six copies of the information must be submitted to the Chair of the Awards Committee by December 31, 1997.

AAVPT Graduate Student Award

The Awards Committee seeks nominations for the AAVPT Graduate Student Award (formerly the Hoechst-Roussel Agri-Vet Company Graduate Student Award). The AAVPT Graduate Student Award is intended to provide a graduate student studying in the area of veterinary pharmacology/therapeutics with financial support to attend the AAVPT Biennial Symposium. The award will consist of a commemorative plaque, meeting registration, and a check for $500 to be presented at the Biennial Symposium. Any graduate student in good standing duly enrolled in a Masters or Doctoral program will be eligible. The student is not required to have earned a degree in veterinary medicine prior to entering a graduate program. Only those students enrolled in a U.S. University will be considered. The student must be pursuing graduate studies in veterinary pharmacology and must be sponsored by an AAVPT Fellow. Applications must be submitted in full to the Chair of the Awards Committee by December 31st, 1997. A completed application should include the following:

1. Name

2. Institution

3. Degree sought and expected date of graduation

Title of presentation (if applicable)

4. Academic record

5. Two letters of recommendation

(one of which must be from an AAVPT Fellow)

6. The applicant's resume

7. Brief statement by the applicant of his or her career goals

All nominations and applications should be submitted in full no later than December 31, 1997 to:

Dr. Carl Osborne, Chair, AAVPT Awards Committee

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences

College of Veterinary Medicine

University of Minnesota

St. Paul, MN 55108

Phone: 612-625-4285

Fax: 612-624-0751

E-mail: osbor002@maroon.tc.umn.edu

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AAVPT Program Committee Update

xciting things are happening this year for AAVPT members and the veterinary community in general as a result of the AAVPT-sponsored Symposia. Here is the slate of programs to mark on your calendars.

January 19-21, 1998: The AAVPT Special Sysposium entitled "The Role of Veterinary Therapeutics in Antimicrobial Resistance Development: Animal and Public Health Perspectives" will be held at the University of Maryland Conference Center in College Park, MD (same venue as the 1996 Biennial Symposium). Confirmed speakers include Mark Papich, Mike Apley, Clyde Thornsberry, Richard Carnevale, Fred Angulo, Thomas Cebula, and others. The objectives are to allow discussion among the veterinary community, livestock producers, public health officials, and medical microbiologists on the issue, and to provide a public forum for debate and dialog. You will receive a brochure in the mail within the next few weeks.

May 21-25: ACVIM Forum in San Diego. The AAVPT and the ACVCP are co-sponsoring a one-day program during the ACVIM meeting with topics to include efficacy criteria, interspecies extrapolation, designing efficacy studies, use of animal models for efficacy testing, and the efficacy of cardiovascular, endocrine, and gastrointestinal drugs and nutriceuticals.

June 14-18, 1998: AAVPT Biennial Symposium at the Asilomar Conference Center in the Monterey Bay area: Rick Vulliet has assembled quite a program of scientific interest, local flavor, and coastal relaxation for us to enjoy. Innovations include poster sessions and possibly concurrent sessions. With the San Francisco area providing such a wealth of experts in pharmacology and therapeutics in human medicine, we are sure to enjoy some world-renowned speakers.

July 25-30, 1998: AVMA Annual Meeting in Baltimore. An encore presentation of the one-day ACVIM meeting program will be provided to a different audience. Cory Langston, Jim Riviere, Paul Pion, Duncan Ferguson, Robert (Bob) Washabau, and others are sure to provide enthusiasm and clarity to the efficacy presentations once again.

As you can see, the AAVPT is quite active over the next few months in a variety of areas that are of interest and importance to the profession. I urge you to attend as many of these meetings as you possibly can.

- Scott Brown

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ACVCP Program Committee Update

ur participation was once again requested for the ACVIM Foum, that will be held in San Diego, May 22-25, 1998. Scott Brown, the AAVPT Program Committee Chair has also helped with this program. In addition, Scott has been working hard to put together a symposium in for the spring of 1998 on "Fluoroquinolone Resistance in Bacteria." A description of our program for the 1998 ACVIM Forum is as follows:

ACVIM Program for Affiliated Groups - 1998, San Diego, May 22-25, 1998

This program will be co-presented by the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology (ACVCP) and the American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics (AAVPT).

Program description: The 1998 program for the ACVCP/AAVPT is designed to stimulate thoughtful discussion among ACVIM Specialties, veterinary scientists, and veterinary clinicians, on the use of drugs in animals. The general theme is the evaluation of drug efficacy. There are eight 45 minute sessions: four in the morning and four in the afternoon. Speakers for each session are as follows:

Morning Session. Moderator: Mark G. Papich, DVM, MS

1. Evaluation of drug efficacy: Guidelines for designing a proper clinical drug trial.

-- Dr. Joe Bertone (FDA)

2. Evaluation criteria for accepting efficacy of non-approved drugs (off label uses.)

-- Dr. V. Cory Langston (Mississipi State University)

3. Use of experimental animal models to evaluate drug efficacy.

-- Dr. Scott Brown (Upjohn-Pharmacia).

4. Pharmacokinetics: A tool for understanding and guiding studies on drugs.

-- Dr. Jim Riviere (North Carolina State University).

Afternoon Session. Moderator: Dr. Scott A. Brown (Upjohn-Pharmacia)

5. 5. Efficacy of cardiovascular drugs.

-- Dr. Paul Pion (University of California, Davis)

6. Gastrointestinal drugs: an evaluation of their use and efficacy.

-- Dr. Robert J. Washabau (University of Pennsylvania)

7. Evaluation of the endocrine drugs and their efficacy in animals.

-- Dr. Duncan Ferguson (U. of Georgia)

8. Evaluation of the use of nutritional supplements and nutriceutical compounds for therapy of disease.

-- Dr. Dave Dzanis, (FDA).

- Mark Papich

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Proposed Revisions to the AAVPT

New Members for VMAC

r. Frederick J. Angulo, Medical Epidemiologist, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been appointed to serve on FDA's Veterinary Medical Advisory Committee representing the speciality of Public Health and Epidemiology. Dr. Angulo will attend the fall meeting of VMAC scheduled for November 12-13, 1997.

1996 Adverse Drug Experience Summary Available

The 1996 Adverse Drug Experience (ADE) Summary includes all domestic adverse drug reaction reports submitted to CVM during 1996 that the Center has determined to be at least possibly drug related. Adverse reactions resulting from extra-label uses are identified.

The ADE Summary is published in the September/October issue of the FDA Veterinarian. Copies of the ADE Summary may be obtained by contacting Linda A. Grassie, FDA Veterinarian (HFV-12), 7500 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855.

Approval of Antimicrobial Drugs for Animal Uses Continues to be Controversial

In the May 22, 1997, Federal Register, FDA issued an order prohibiting the extra-label use (ELU) of fluoroquinolones and glycopeptides. The Agency issued the order because it believes that some ELU of fluoroquinolones and glycopeptides in food-producing animals are capable of increasing the level of drug resistant zoonotic pathogens in treated animals at the time of slaughter. In the order, FDA determined that some ELU of fluoroquinolones and glycopeptides in food-producing animals likely will cause an adverse event, which constitutes a finding under the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994 (AMDUCA) that ELU of these drugs in food animals presents a risk to public health.

Also, regarding the uses of antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals, WHO has scheduled a meeting on the Medical Impact of Use of Antimicrobial Drugs in Food Animals, to be held at the WHO/AFO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Food Hygiene and Zoonoses, Berlin, Germany, on October 13-17, 1997. Drs. Stephen Sundlof, Margaret Miller, and Linda Tollefson will be attending the meeting from CVM.

Reminder

Much current and historical information about CVM and its functions and activities, including both proposed and final rules, drug approvals and withdrawals, scheduled events and other information of interest to veterinary pharmacologists may be accessed through CVM's Home Page on the Internet (http://www.cvm.fda.gov).

- Richard H. Teske

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Plans for the Eleventh Biennial

Symposium now in their Final Stages

he finishing touches are being applied to plans for the Eleventh Biennial Symposium of the AAVPT that will be held at the Asilomar Conference Center on the Monterey Peninsula in California from June 14-18, 1998. Entitled "Quantitative Approaches to Veterinary Therapeutics," the symposium will combine recent advances in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics with newer approaches to veterinary therapeutics. The meeting will feature morning and evening sessions, with afternoons free to explore surrounding areas. Poster presentations are encouraged from everyone attending, and these sessions will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with complimentary wine and cheese being served. The program committee, chaired by Dr. Richard Vulliet (prvulliet@ucdavis.edu, (916-752-7409), has put together an exciting program that will feature experts from industry, academia, and regulatory agencies. Other program committee members are: Art Craigmill (alcraigmill@ucdavis.edu), Gary Koritz (gkoritz@cvm.uiuc.edu), Jim Riviere (jim_riviere@ncsu.edu), Ron Highland (Ron.Highland.B@Bayer.com), Scott Brown (sbrown1@am.pnu.com), Ann Jernigan (jernia@pfizer.com), Steve Sundlof (ssundlof@Bangate.fda.gov), Joe Bertone (jbertone@Bangate.fda.gov), Marilyn Martinez (mmartin1@Bangate.fda.gov), and John Baker (jbaker@Bangate.fda.gov). If you have suggestions for additional items or sessions for this meeting, please feel free to contact any of the program committee members listed above, and they will do their best we can to accommodate you.

The Asilomar Conference Center is located on the beach, at the north entrance of California's famous "17-mile drive," which ends in downtown Carmel. Trivial pursuit question: Who is the ex-mayor of Carmel? Hint: You don't want to "make his day." The Monterey Peninsula teems with recreational opportunities, ranging from kelp forest scuba diving (anyone interested in going on a charter dive boat should contact Rick or Art directly), beach combing, sea kayaking, winery touring, and much much more. The conference center was once owned by the family of the character portrayed in "Citizen Kane" before they donated it to the State of California for use as a state park. The center features rustic lodges, nature walks, and it is only minutes away from Steinbeck's Cannery Row, which features one of the best aquariums that I have ever seen. This will be a good meeting for your family to accompany you, since there are so many interesting things to see and do in this beautiful area. When making your travel plans, be certain also to include visiting San Francisco, and touring the Bay area's "Wine Country."

The pre-registration fee will be $175, whereas it will be $225 at the door. Please register early, and let us know what else the program committee can do to encourage your attendance. A formal announcement containing additional information will be mailed, in the near future, to all AAVPT members, so watch for it, and circle June 14-18 on your 1998 calendar today.

- Rick Vulliet

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JVPT Update

ecognition and a prize will be made to the author of the best scientific article published in our journal during 1997. Details will be described in a forthcoming issue of the journal. We expect that this prize will be an annual event. You may wish to consider submitting your next paper to JVPT so that it will be eligible for a prize in 1998.

- Arthur Aronson

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fter providing us with the latest information about important happenings in the pharmaceutical industry since the very inception of our AAVPT Newsletter, my good friend and colleague, Elliot Piperno, has asked to be relieved of this responsibility for future issues. Speaking for myself, and for every AAVPT member, we extend our thanks, appreciation, and gratitude to Elliot for his years of loyal service and dedication to AAVPT through his many contributions to our newsletter.

Our Secretary-Treasurer noted that we are presently in good financial shape, but in order for us to remain healthy in this regard, it is very important for each of us to pay our dues, and also to give serious consideration to contributing to our awards fund. By subscribing to the JVPT, you are also supporting AAVPT by reducing the amount of money required to underwrite the minimum number of subscriptions that we are obligated to purchase from the publisher. This is the time of year that dues notices are normally sent out, so when yours arrives, please respond to it promptly. This will enable AAVPT to continue providing its many services to you throughout the coming year.

During a normal year, it is not at all unusual, for a variety of reasons, for some of our members to change their mailing address, telephone number, fax number, E-mail address, etc. If, however, our Secretary-Treasurer, Dr. Ann Jernigan, is not notified when this happens, it means that the member's information in our AAVPT computer database is no longer accurate. That creates serious problems for all concerned when we send out mailings, or attempt to contact you by alternate avenues of communication. In most cases, the mailing is simply returned to us with an "addressee unknown" message boldly stamped on it, and no forwarding address is provided. While we do our best to track down "missing members," it is often a difficult process, and we are not always successful. Please help us keep in touch by remembering to notify us, if and when this situation applies to you. In this regard, please keep in mind the following quote attributed to an unknown source: "The first problem of communication is the illusion that it has been established."

This newsletter continues to be our primary means of communicating with you, and through it, we strive to keep you informed, not only about the activities of AAVPT and ACVCP, but also regarding other items of interest to the profession on a world-wide basis. If you have some news about yourself,, know of a job opportunity, have reviewed a new book lately, or have other information that you would like to share, then please send it along to me at my Haverford College address (provided below) at your convenience, and I'll do my best to include it in a future issue.

- Carl E. Aronson

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A.A.V.P.T. NEWSLETTER STAFF

Editor: Carl E. Aronson

Correspondents

Industry: Elliot Piperno

Washington: Richard H. Teske

J.V.P.T.: Arthur L. Aronson

Education: Gordon L. Coppoc

The Newsletter is published three times a year by the American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Please address all correspondence to: Dr. Carl E. Aronson, Department of Chemistry, 215 Stokes Hall, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Avenue, Haverford, PA 19041-1392 [Telephone: (610) 896-1357; FAX: (610) 896-4904; E-Mail: <aronsonc@vet.upenn.edu>].