Via Boehringer Ingelheim Press Release
DULUTH, Ga. (August 21, 2018) – Merial, now part of Boehringer Ingelheim, received approval from the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the label claims for NexGard (afoxolaner). The flea and tick control product is now approved to prevent Borrelia burgdorferi infections as a direct result of NexGard killing Ixodes scapularis vector ticks, commonly called black-legged ticks (or deer ticks).
Lyme disease is a significant threat to dogs in many parts of the country. To reduce the risk of Lyme disease, and the ticks that transmit it, pet owners should consider utilizing a multimodal approach. This may include avoiding areas with high tick burdens and taking steps to reduce the number of ticks in their surroundings. Pets should be checked daily for ticks, and any ticks found should be removed. Pet owners can also consult with their veterinarians to determine if their dogs should be vaccinated to protect against Lyme disease. Veterinary experts also recommend year-round tick control for all dogs.
NexGard is the first, and only, flea and tick product to receive FDA approval for preventing infections that cause Lyme disease by killing the vector ticks. The approval comes just as veterinarians and pet owners in many parts of the country are being warned about the potential of an increased number of Lyme disease cases in 2018.
“When Merial launched NexGard in 2013 it was the first oral flea and tick control product and the first of the isoxazoline class of parasiticides,” said Zach Mills, DVM, Head of US Pet Veterinary Professional Services. “Having the first flea and tick product approved to prevent the transmission of the organism that causes Lyme disease is evidence of Boehringer Ingelheim’s commitment to continue to make advancements in veterinary medicine.”
The FDA approval is based on two well-controlled laboratory studies, which showed that NexGard effectively prevented the transmission of Borrelia burgdorfei infections after dogs were infested with wildcaught Ixodes scapularis ticks 28 days after treatment with NexGard.
“Both studies measured the transmission of B. burgdorferi to dogs after exposure to infected ticks. All dogs treated with NexGard tested negative for B. burgdorferi infection, demonstrating that transmission was prevented as a direct result of NexGard killing the infected ticks,” said Dr. Mills. “This research shows that NexGard provides a full month of protection against black-legged ticks infected with the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.”
In addition to killing black-legged ticks, NexGard also kills Lone Star ticks, American dog ticks and brown dog ticks. It also prevents flea infestations by killing adult fleas before they lay eggs. NexGard remains veterinarians’ top choice for flea and tick protection in dogs.2 To learn more about NexGard, visit NexGardClinic.com or contact your Boehringer Ingelheim Sales Representative.