WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has conditionally approved the first treatment in the nation to prevent and combat New World screwworm infestations in cattle — a parasitic threat capable of devastating livestock herds and inflicting major economic losses on U.S. farmers.
The new drug, Dectomax-CA1 (doramectin injection), produced by Zoetis Inc. of Kalamazoo, Michigan, is approved for the prevention and treatment of New World screwworm larvae and to prevent reinfestation for up to 21 days. It is available immediately for cattle producers under a conditional approval designed to fast-track solutions for serious animal health threats.
“We understand the urgency with which America’s farmers and ranchers are asking for tools to fight New World screwworm,” said FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary. “This conditional approval — the first in the U.S. for NWS — shows our dedication to rapidly advancing important animal medicines when they are needed most.”
The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, poses a potentially catastrophic risk to livestock populations. While eradicated from the U.S. decades ago, recent detections near the southern border have raised alarm among ranchers and agricultural officials.
Under conditional approval, Dectomax-CA1 is deemed safe and reasonably effective, allowing immediate use while Zoetis completes additional studies for full approval. “We are making this treatment available to cattle producers immediately while the sponsor collects the data needed for a full approval,” said Dr. Timothy Schell, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.
Dectomax-CA1 shares the same active ingredient and dosage as the already-approved Dectomax, used to treat nematode and arthropod parasites in cattle and swine. The drug carries a 35-day withdrawal period before slaughter and is not approved for dairy cattle older than 20 months or calves intended for veal.
Officials urged veterinarians and producers to use antiparasitic medications like Dectomax-CA1 responsibly to help prevent drug resistance and preserve long-term effectiveness.
The approval marks a milestone for U.S. biosecurity efforts, offering ranchers a long-sought tool against one of livestock agriculture’s most destructive parasitic threats.
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