Aug 13 (Reuters) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday issued an emergency use authorization for Zoetis’ flea and tick drug to treat New World screwworm (NWS) infestations in dogs and puppies.
Here are more details:
• Currently, most dogs in the U.S. are at low risk of exposure to NWS, which is a flesh-eating livestock pest, due to their geographic location, the FDA said.
• However, dogs that live in, travel to, or return from areas where screwworm infestations have been identified by animal health officials, as well as certain countries south of the U.S. border, should be closely monitored for signs of infestation, such as visible maggots, foul odors in wounds or body openings, the agency said.
• At present, NWS has only been detected in specific areas of Texas and New Mexico.
• The FDA issues emergency use authorizations to allow the use of unapproved treatments during public health threats when no alternatives are available.
• Based on the totality of data available, the FDA said it is reasonable to believe that Simparica TRIO may be effective in the treatment of NWS infestations.
• The drug was approved by the FDA in 2020 for heartworm, flea and tick-related indications in dogs and puppies. It is available only by prescription.
• Elanco Animal Health also received an emergency use nod for its drug, Credelio, last year to treat dogs infected with New World screwworm.
(Reporting by Sneha S K in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas)
