Elanco gains FDA nod for screwworm treatment

Elanco Animal Health Inc. said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization for its topical spray to treat New World screwworm infestations in livestock.

The FDA’s decision allows the use of the product under specific conditions to control the parasitic infestation, which poses a risk to animal health and agricultural productivity. The authorization is effective immediately and applies to designated states and territories where screwworm outbreaks have been reported.

Elanco did not disclose financial terms related to the emergency authorization or provide a timeline for broader commercial availability. The company emphasized the spray’s role in mitigating the spread of screwworm, a condition caused by the larvae of the Cochliomyia hominivorax fly, which burrows into living tissue and can lead to severe health complications in livestock.

The emergency authorization follows heightened surveillance and response efforts by U.S. agricultural authorities to contain screwworm outbreaks, particularly in southern states. The FDA’s move aligns with federal and state initiatives to protect livestock populations and prevent economic losses in the agricultural sector.

Elanco, a global leader in animal health products, has not commented on potential impacts to its revenue or operations from the emergency authorization.