FDA authorises Bimectin injection to combat New World screwworm in cattle

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Bimectin, an ivermectin injection, for emergency use in cattle to prevent severe screwworm infestations, expanding options to fight this parasitic threat.

The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised Bimectin, an ivermectin injection, for emergency use in cattle to help prevent New World screwworm infestations when given within 24 hours of birth, at castration or when a wound appears.

According to the agency, the move expands the supply of generic options as it seeks to reduce reliance on a single manufacturer. Bimectin is the generic equivalent of Ivomec, which won similar emergency authorisation in February. The FDA has also issued emergency clearances this year for Dectomax in dairy cattle, horses, swine, sheep and deer, and for an ivermectin oral solution in horses, reflecting a broader effort to build out defences against the parasite.

The treatment is not authorised for lactating dairy cows or calves destined for veal. The FDA said producers must observe a 35-day slaughter withdrawal period to avoid drug residues in the food chain.

The agency said the evidence available suggests Bimectin may be effective when used as directed, and that its expected benefits outweigh the risks. The product is sold over the counter and is sponsored by Bimeda Animal Health, based in Ireland.

The FDA said on Wednesday that it has now issued 14 emergency use authorisations and three conditional approvals for animal drugs targeting New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that can inflict severe tissue damage and, in rare cases, kill infected animals.