Pet owners in areas affected by New World screwworm now have a new option to protect their dogs and cats. The Food and Drug Administration on Friday issued an Emergency Use Authorization for generic Nitenpyram Tablets — the first generic animal drug authorized to treat the flesh-burrowing parasite.

The authorization covers dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens weighing at least two pounds and at least four weeks old. While most pets in the U.S. face low risk, the danger is real for animals recently in areas with confirmed NWS cases.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called the authorization “the latest tactical tool” in the government’s containment strategy, describing it as “an affordable, fast-acting treatment for dogs and cats in affected areas.”

The FDA has now issued ten EUAs and three conditional approvals for drugs targeting NWS, with more under review. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said her agency has been working alongside HHS and FDA to ensure pet owners have access to treatment.

NWS flies lay eggs in open wounds or mucous membranes of mammals. The larvae hatch within hours and burrow into the animal’s flesh. Nitenpyram kills most larvae within hours of the first dose, though pet owners should administer a second dose six hours later. Because the effects are short-acting, the tablets do not prevent reinfestation.

Timothy Schell, who directs the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said generic animal drugs strengthen domestic supply chains and expand the veterinary toolkit for NWS.

Following treatment, a veterinary professional may need to physically remove any remaining larvae to minimize infection risk. The tablets are available over the counter in 11.4 mg and 57 mg sizes, dosed by weight. They should not be used in pets under two pounds or four weeks of age.

Felix Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., based in Ireland, is the sponsor.

Source: FDA Press Release