By Jamie Martin
New World Screwworm (NWS) is a dangerous parasite that affects animals, and right now, the FDA has no approved drugs to treat it. The agency’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is actively working to change that.
CVM is partnering with the USDA, which leads the national response to NWS, and with the EPA, which oversees some antiparasitic products, to build a complete strategy to fight this problem.
Their goal is to support safe drug use in livestock, pets, and wild animals. The FDA is exploring several approval pathways that include full approval, conditional approval, emergency use, and extra-label use. Each option depends on the animal species and drug status.
Because NWS is a serious and urgent issue, some fast-track options like emergency use or off-label prescriptions might be needed before full drug approval can happen.
Veterinarians can use drugs off-label if they meet FDA rules, especially for animals not raised for food. For food animals, there are stricter rules that must be followed. The FDA offers resources to help veterinarians understand these guidelines.
CVM also wants to make sure any new treatments remain effective and do not lead to drug resistance over time. They invite drug makers to contact them about new treatment ideas and possible approval options.
Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic
Categories: National