Zoetis Advances Virtual Diagnostics with Planned VitalRADS Acquisition

Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire VitalRADS, a veterinary teleradiology and imaging services provider, marking a strategic expansion of its Global Diagnostics business. The move is aimed at reinforcing Zoetis’s Virtual Reference Laboratory by incorporating teleradiology, mobile ultrasound, imaging workflow technology and AI-assisted diagnostics into its service offerings.

Acquisition Details

The agreement, announced on July 14, 2026, builds upon an existing partnership between Zoetis and VitalRADS that began in August 2025. VitalRADS currently delivers around-the-clock access to veterinary specialists—covering radiologists, cardiologists, neurologists and dentists—through its cloud-based platform. It processes digital radiographs, ECGs, CT scans and MRI studies across more than 25 species, providing same-day results and two-hour STAT reads. Additionally, VitalRADS operates mobile ultrasound services in Houston and Seattle, an outpatient imaging center in Cypress, Texas, and a cloud-based PACS platform integrated with medical record systems. The platform serves over 1,800 active customers. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Strategic Significance for Zoetis

This acquisition enhances Zoetis’s Virtual Reference Laboratory model by adding a specialist imaging and diagnostics layer to its existing point-of-care and reference lab offerings. Zoetis already provides in-clinic diagnostics through platforms like Vetscan Imagyst® and Vetscan Opticell™, while reference laboratory services are delivered via entities such as Phoenix Central Laboratory, ZNLabs and Ethos Diagnostic Science. VitalRADS’s capabilities—including automated draft radiology reporting and AI-based quality assurance tools—will augment these services, positioning Zoetis with a more integrated, specialist-enabled diagnostics ecosystem.

Outlook and Next Steps

With the acquisition slated to close in Q3 2026, Zoetis plans to ensure a smooth integration with minimal disruption to VitalRADS’s clients. The company expects the expanded offerings to drive diagnostic efficiency and clinical insight, supporting veterinarians across imaging and lab workflows.

Verified stock price context: As of September 28, 2026, Zoetis shares were trading at $71.43, up 1.32%, reflecting investor focus on strategic diagnostics expansions across the animal health sector.

This development solidifies Zoetis’s ongoing leadership in veterinary diagnostics by integrating teleradiology and AI-driven workflows into its comprehensive Virtual Reference Laboratory platform.