Merck gets US FDA emergency use nod for treatment of screwworm in dogs
MRK•The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for Merck’s Bravecto tablets to treat New World screwworm in dogs and puppies. The drug will be available by prescription through licensed veterinarians; the agency said its potential benefits outweigh its risks when used as authorized.
1. Emergency authorization
The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for Merck’s Bravecto tablets to treat New World screwworm in dogs and puppies. The agency said available scientific evidence supports a reasonable belief that the drug may be effective and that its potential benefits outweigh its risks when used as authorized.
2. Use and safety
The drug, whose active ingredient is fluralaner, is already approved for certain flea- and tick-related uses in dogs and puppies. It will remain available only by prescription through a licensed veterinarian. The FDA noted that isoxazolines, the class of antiparasitic medicines Bravecto belongs to, have been associated with neurological side effects including muscle tremors, loss of coordination and seizures.
3. Risk guidance
The FDA said most dogs in the United States remain at low risk because confirmed cases are limited to a restricted geographic area, but dogs living in, traveling to or returning from affected regions should be monitored for visible maggots or foul-smelling wounds.
