NEW YORK — Better Choice Company announced Feb. 9 its acquisition of Aimia Pet Healthco Inc. The transaction follows a partnership established by the two companies in 2023 to develop a GLP1 supplement benefitting pets with obesity and related health issues.

The companies first partnered in October 2023 to collaborate on R&D for the supplement, which will be sold under Better Choice ’s Halo brand. Following that initial MOU, Aimia Pet went on to sign another MOU with KGK Science Inc., a Canadian research organization, to help develop the supplement.

Through the acquisition, Better Choice will now internally manage clinical trials related to the development and testing of the supplement, according to the company.

“The goal of the research and development work is to mirror the weight loss benefits of leading brands for domestic animals and in humans including Slentrol, Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro with added protein and nutrients from the company’s Halo products to promote lean muscle and overall pet health,” Better Choice stated.

This comes as the next step for Better Choice toward the development of a solution to combat obesity in dogs and cats. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), 59% of dogs and 61% of cats in the United States were deemed overweight or obese in 2022. Better Choice noted this health issue commonly leads to other weight-related conditions in pets, including arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Read more about corporate strategy, financial performance, mergers and acquisitions on our Business page.