Quick Takeaways:
- Boehringer Ingelheim announced that the US FDA has issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for NexGard (afoxolaner) in dogs and NexGard COMBO in cats to treat New World screwworm (NWS) infestations.
- The move comes as NWS cases emerge in northern Mexico, raising preparedness concerns for the US; the Cochliomyia hominivorax can cause rapid, potentially fatal tissue damage, making timely treatment critical for affected animals.
- While not fully approved for this use, these EUA-backed options ensure veterinarians can act quickly during outbreaks, strengthening response readiness and protecting pets from this high-risk parasitic threat.
Why It Matters?
The EUAs immediately expand the therapeutic toolkit for a serious, fast-moving parasitic threat, positioning NexGard and NexGard COMBO as go‑to options if New World screwworm spreads beyond current foci in northern Mexico.
For Boehringer Ingelheim, this strengthens the NexGard franchise’s role not just in routine parasite control but also in emergency response, deepening its relationships with regulators and veterinarians in vector-borne and emerging disease preparedness.
Source: PRnewswire
