A new antibiotic has picked up federal approval for a Canadian rollout this fall against the top three bacteria connected to bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in beef cattle.
Merck Animal Health on Friday announced approval for its antibiotic Zuprevo, which the company said is specifically indicated for treatment of BRD associated with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Histophilus somni.
The product — using the active ingredient tildipirosin, a macrolide antibiotic — is also indicated for reduction of morbidity in feedlot calves, caused by the same three bacteria during the first 14 days in the feedlot, when administered at the time of arrival.
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The three bacterial pathogens are considered the most prevalent in the BRD complex, the company said.
Tildipirosin is "rapidly" absorbed from the site of injection, reaching peak plasma concentrations in 45 minutes and yielding "high and persistent" plasma and lung concentrations, the company said, adding that lung concentrations of tildipirosin in Zuprevo-treated cattle were found to show "longer activity" than other macrolides.
Tildipirosin also has the lowest dose volume of any BRD treatment available, administered at one millilitre per 100 pounds of body weight, subcutaneously, with a maximum injection volume of 10 ml, Merck said. Its formulation is also "highly syringeable, even in cold temperatures."
Merck held its official launch for Zuprevo last September at a European cattle health conference in Belgium. The product is registered in the European Union and picked up U.S. approval in May this year.
Merck’s U.S. release in May billed Zuprevo for treatment of non-lactating dairy cattle as well as beef cattle — but no claim for use in dairy animals was made in Merck’s Canadian release Friday. A Merck representative was not immediately available Tuesday afternoon.
Paul Koffman, cattle business unit director for Merck Animal Health, said in the company’s release that Zuprevo is meant to round out the company’s lung-health portfolio for cattle, which in Canada also includes Resflor, Nuflor and the Vista vaccine line.
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New BRD treatment launched for lactating dairy cows, June 1, 2011
