A newly approved chewable parasiticide from Zoetis Inc. is expected to reach U.S. veterinary clinics by late April.
Simparica Trio, which received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, is a monthly prescription medication formulated to protect dogs against heartworm disease, ticks and fleas, roundworms and hookworms. The drug began selling in Europe this month.
“Combining the active ingredients sarolaner, moxidectin and pyrantel delivers a convenient broad-spectrum option for veterinarians to provide to dog owners,” said Catherine A. Knupp, DVM, MS, executive vice president and president of research and development at Zoetis.
The Parsippany, New Jersey, company reported that studies of Simparica Trio found:
- 100% efficacy in preventing the development of heartworm disease.
- At least 98.9% effectiveness against existing tick infestations.
- The ability to kill fleas within four hours.
- More than 94% efficacy against adult hookworms and 99% against adult roundworms.
The medication is proven effective against five tick species: lone star, Gulf Coast, American dog, black-legged and brown dog.
Simparica Trio is a next-generation drug. Its predecessor, Simparica (sarolaner), launched in 2016 as a chewable flea and tick preventive.
More recent parasiticides from Zoetis include:
- ProHeart 12 (moxidectin), an annual injection approved in July 2019 to prevent heartworm disease in dogs.
- Revolution Plus (selamectin and sarolaner), a topical solution approved in November 2018 to kill fleas, ticks, ear mites, roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms in cats.
Simparica Trio may be given to dogs at least 8 weeks old and weighing at least 2.8 pounds.
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