Zoetis bets on oncology, cardiology and obesity to drive growth

Zoetis will develop at least 25 treatment and diagnostic solutions across 5 key disease areas that affect pets. The American company also plans to launch new antiparasitic products and vaccines for companion animals.

Speaking at the JP Morgan 2026 Healthcare Conference in January 2026, Zoetis’s CEO Kristin Peck said the investment will begin with chronic kidney disease, which she describes as “the number one cause of death in cats” and a significant disease area with “very little treatments today to address it.”

“This market could be $3-$4B (€2.8B to €3.7B). Today, Zoetis has 7 assets and biomarkers [meaning treatment and diagnostic tools] in development,” she adds.

Oncology, cardiology and anxiety 

In oncology, the number one cause of death in dogs and the second in cats, the company has 4 assets and biomarkers in development. The category is estimated to generate a market of approximately $1.2 billion (€1.1B) to $1.7 billion (€1.6B) across all animals, including pets and livestock. 

The company expects the cardiology market to generate $800 million (€700M) to $1 billion (€900M) and is developing 9 projects to enable new treatments.

“We’re also excited about the opportunity around obesity and metabolic disease, which affects 60% of dogs and cats today,” Peck adds.

According to her, this market could be valued at $800 million (€700M) to $1 billion (€900M).

Finally, in anxiety, which affects 70% of dogs and cats today, whether due to separation anxiety or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the company expects the market to reach $700 million (€600M) to $1.4 billion (€1.3B). Zoetis has 3 assets under development in this area. 

What is driving the segment?

According to Peck, the global animal health industry is projected to reach $90 billion (€83B) over the next decade. For companion animals, younger pet owners, including Millennials and Gen Z, are driving category growth because they place greater emotional value on pets. 

“They are increasing pet medicalization, are interested in getting top-quality veterinary care and investing in treatments that can expand the life of their pets – and indeed they are,” Peck says.

As pets live longer, they require more advanced therapies, particularly for age-related diseases, which also drives the diagnostics market, she adds. 

Looking ahead

Also speaking at the JP Morgan conference, Zoetis’ CFO, Wetteny Joseph, said the company will continue to use pricing as a lever for growth in the new fiscal year. For 2026, Zoetis plans to raise prices by roughly 4%, which Joseph notes is lower than the increases in the past 2 years.

On investments in dermatology and parasiticides, which are both expected to drive future growth, Joseph says, “We are [also] taking into consideration the short-term or transitory impacts of initial launches from competitors and navigating those and executing through those.”

The CFO emphasizes that secular industry trends will support continued expansion for both Zoetis and the broader animal health sector. 

Zoetis expects organic operational growth for full-year 2025 to be in the 5.5%-6.5% range.