How a veterinarian with a PhD in economics is revolutionizing evidence-based pet health through rigorous science and real-world outcomes
When Dr. Pedro Machado tells pet supplement brands that their "dream product" might need a reality check, they listen. As VP of Research and Development at Pet Tech Labs, he's spent two decades bridging the gap between marketing promises and scientific proof—a balance that's transformed how some of the industry's leading brands approach pet health.
With a veterinary degree from Brazil, advanced degrees in microbiology, pathology, and a PhD in applied economics focused on agricultural marketing, Pedro brings a unique perspective to pet supplement development. His career has been dedicated to one core principle: evidence first, marketing second.
"I really saw how quickly the industry could drift toward marketing-led decisions with low outcomes and low evidence," Pedro explains. "I wanted to be on the side that would protect science—to bring science to the table and say, 'That's why we use this, and this probably doesn't work.'"
For Pedro and his team at Pet Tech Labs, ingredient sourcing isn't about following trends—it's about verification and validation. With countless ingredients flooding the market, the team applies two fundamental filters before anything enters a formula.
"Traceability and proof of function are the main qualities we're looking for," Pedro states. "If we can't verify the identity, the quality, or the documentation end-to-end and the source, it basically doesn't go in a formula."
This commitment extends beyond individual ingredients to the entire supply chain. Pet Tech Labs partners exclusively with certified suppliers who can prove chain of custody, ensuring consistency, repeatability, and reliability. And crucially, they focus on ingredients that are readily available—avoiding exotic or hard-to-source components that could create supply chain vulnerabilities down the road.
Every new product that leaves Pet Tech Labs undergoes real-time stability testing by default. This isn't a nice-to-have—it's a foundational requirement.
"We work with evidence-based science and evidence-based decision-making, and that starts with ingredient sourcing," Pedro emphasizes.
The team validates dosing, stability, and delivery mechanisms before a product ever reaches manufacturing scale.
This rigorous approach ensures that what works in the lab will continue working on retail shelves months later, protecting both brand reputation and, more importantly, pet health outcomes.
When brands approach Pet Tech Labs with ambitious product concepts, the team doesn't immediately jump into formulation. Instead, they guide clients through a structured stage-gate process designed to prevent costly mistakes and delays.
"We try to lock the target outcome, what they're looking for in that product, what type of format they're interested in, and why—and which constraints those formats plus the outcome will bring," Pedro explains. "Then we design the formula around manufacturability, specifications, and documented cross-functional approvals."
This process moves through distinct phases: defining the idea, scoping the project, formulation based on those definitions, approval, manufacturing, and finally launch. Quality and regulatory compliance aren't afterthoughts—they're built into the workflow from day one.
"We aim to build compliance into the workflow," Pedro notes. "Many times you see this dream product being developed, but at the end of the day, it's not an approved ingredient, or there's not enough science to validate it. We have our quality and regulatory sign-offs before release readiness."
One of the most common challenges Pet Tech Labs addresses is helping brands understand the difference between a laboratory concept and a manufacturable product.
"When we think about a lab setting, we're talking small scale, proving a concept—'I want to see if A mixed with B gives me the outcome I'm looking for,'" Pedro explains. "In manufacturing, innovation is when we translate that little invention into a repeatable, controllable, and scalable process."
This translation requires specifications, calibration, and process controls that can protect quality at market volume. The team's expertise lies in taking promising formulations and ensuring they can be produced consistently at scale—without sacrificing efficacy or safety.
Not every trending ingredient deserves a spot in a formula. Pedro draws a clear distinction between trends backed by evidence and hype driven by marketing momentum.
"There's a difference between what is a trend and what is a hype," he explains. "The trend is something that's increasing in popularity, and hype is something that just explodes without solid evidence."
Take mushrooms, for example—a current darling of the supplement industry.
"It's not that there's no evidence, but there's a big hype on mushrooms," Pedro observes. "Mushroom is such a huge category. There are so many different mushrooms, so many different polysaccharides that can have an impact. But it's different than just adding mushrooms."
The challenge? Specificity matters. Which mushroom species? What extraction method? Whole fruiting body or mycelium? These details determine whether a product delivers real benefits or just capitalizes on consumer interest.
"We really start with the mechanism and the evidence, and then we validate the dose, stability, and delivery," Pedro says. "It's evidence first and marketing second. That's how we believe we build brands that last."
Perhaps the most critical—and commonly overlooked—mistake in pet supplement formulation is assuming that what works in humans will work the same way in dogs and cats.
"By far, the biggest mistake is to assume that what works in humans would work the same in pets, or at the same doses especially," Pedro emphasizes. "The inclusion rates or dosages required for a given active to be efficacious in humans is normally different than what would be required in pets."
This isn't just about adjusting for body weight. Dogs and cats have fundamentally different physiology from humans—and from each other. What's safe and effective for one species might be ineffective or even harmful for another.
Even the most scientifically validated formula fails if the animal won't consume it. In human supplements, palatability is a preference. In pet supplements, it's non-negotiable.
"A great formula on paper may still fail if that animal won't take it," Pedro points out. "Compliance is really important in the supplement space because we're formulating products that are supposed to be taken continuously. If our animals don't take them and don't like them, we will never see success."
Pet Tech Labs has developed extensive experience understanding what makes products palatable for different species—and what's appealing to a dog is often completely different from what works for a cat.
"What makes something palatable for a dog is different than what makes something palatable for a cat," Pedro notes. "Those are very specific areas that we take a lot into account, and we confirm that once we finish the product."
Pedro's journey to pet health innovation began in childhood in Brazil, where he dreamed of becoming a veterinarian despite his parents' hopes for a more traditional medical career.
"I always wanted to be a veterinarian since I was a kid," he recalls with a smile. "My parents tried to discourage me because as a parent, you'd want your kid to be a doctor, like a medical doctor, not an animal doctor. But that's something I always had in me."
That passion, combined with his master's in microbiology and pathology, positioned him to make a unique contribution to the industry. But it was his unconventional decision to pursue a PhD in applied economics—focusing on agricultural marketing—that truly set him apart.
"I think that so many people are ROI-driven. Understanding that Pet Tech's science officer also has a PhD in economics is very valuable," notes Justin Hilbert, content manager at Quantum Business Solutions, who conducted the interview.
Outside the lab, Pedro finds that creativity and problem-solving emerge in surprising contexts. Cooking, for one, mirrors the formulation process.
"When you're cooking, you're constantly thinking about how can I make this better—is there a different method for grilling, or seasoning, or even cutting a piece of meat?" he explains. "That's kind of formulation and controlled variation. That's what makes a good recipe."
But it's during physical training—running and swimming outdoors—that his most breakthrough moments occur.
"That's when my mind starts to run on autopilot, and that's when the connections are made. The connections you're not looking for—they just happen," Pedro says, describing the flow state that athletes and scientists alike recognize as prime creative territory.
When asked about the biggest scientific breakthroughs on the horizon, Pedro points immediately to gut health research.
"There's a lot being done in the gut health space, in studies on microbiome and interactions that exist between what will be a healthy gut versus microbiomes of animals that have some sort of condition," he explains. "We've seen a lot of advances there, many patents, many peer-reviewed articles showing mechanisms of action."
This research isn't just trendy—it's backed by rigorous science demonstrating real outcomes. As the evidence base grows, Pet Tech Labs expects to see increasing applications for targeted microbiome interventions.
The second major frontier? Cognitive health, particularly in the context of aging pets.
"Cognitive is something that's also very prevalent, especially as we have better nutrition overall," Pedro observes. "Humans are living longer, and pets are also living longer. We're advancing more in understanding what are the key requirements for healthspan—living a healthier life for as long as possible."
This shift from lifespan to healthspan reflects a broader evolution in how pet owners think about their animals' wellbeing. It's not just about adding years—it's about ensuring those years are high-quality.
As pets increasingly occupy family-member status in households, expectations around supplement delivery have evolved dramatically.
"With humanization, convenience is really important," Pedro notes. "As humans, we like things that are convenient, that are user-friendly. That expectation is now extended to pets—better taste, simpler routines, and formats that fit real life."
Single servings, soft chews, powders, and liquids are all becoming as important as the ingredient story itself. The challenge? Creating delivery systems that are convenient for humans while remaining palatable for pets—a uniquely complex formulation puzzle.
When asked what he'd change about how pet supplements are developed industry-wide, Pedro doesn't hesitate.
"I think the industry standard as a whole could be raised in terms of discipline and proof, to avoid those hypes," he states firmly. "Today, there are too many products that are built around claims instead of outcomes. The claim is based on an outcome—or it should be."
His vision is straightforward but transformative: demand better evidence and better formulation fundamentals across the board.
"If we all demanded better evidence and better formulation fundamentals, our pets would benefit, and trust would grow overall," Pedro argues. "We see skepticism in the supplement business. One reason, in my opinion, is because there's so much claims, claims, claims—but a lot less evidence to support, or outcomes to support, those claims."
After two decades in animal health and nutrition, what still drives Pedro's work at Pet Tech Labs isn't the formulation challenges or the scientific puzzles—it's seeing products make a difference.
"The most rewarding part is seeing that the work we've put in and the dedication is being translated into real outcomes," he reflects. "Ultimately, our product is actually changing pets' lives and helping to improve quality of life. When this rigorous design meets real-world impact, that's when we see the payoff."
For small supplement brands especially, this philosophy creates a powerful value proposition: the ability to build a business around products that genuinely help pets, backed by a team that won't compromise scientific integrity for marketing convenience.
"Something that first started as an idea, now it's truly innovation—it's getting to the final consumer and making a difference," Pedro says. "That's really something that is very rewarding."
Pet Tech Labs specializes in evidence-based pet supplement development, offering both private label solutions and custom formulation services. With a focus on clinical backing, regulatory compliance, and manufacturable innovation, the team helps brands bridge the gap between concept and market-ready products that deliver real health outcomes for companion animals.
Led by Dr. Pedro Machado and a team with deep expertise in veterinary science, nutrition, and manufacturing, Pet Tech Labs serves brands committed to building trust through transparency and efficacy.
Learn more at PetTechLabs.com
This interview was conducted by Justin Hilbert, Content Manager at Quantum Business Solutions, Pet Tech Labs' growth partner for the past seven years.