MSD Animal Health Wins 2024 S&P Global Award for Best New Companion Animal Product for injectable formulation of BRAVECTO® (fluralaner)
Parasiticide Treatment for Dogs Offers Unrivaled Duration of Flea and Tick Protection Compared to Existing Products
Rahway, N.J., February 11, 2025 – MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced that S&P Global Animal Health awarded the injectable formulation of BRAVECTO® (fluralaner) the 2024 Best New Companion Animal Product. It is the first and only parasiticide that protects dogs against fleas and ticks for an entire year with a single dose, offering longer flea and tick protection than any other systemic product currently on the market.
The injectable formulation of BRAVECTO was first approved in Australia and New Zealand in 2023, followed by the Europe Union in 2024. In total, the injectable formulation of BRAVECTO is currently approved in more than 30 countries worldwide. The product is not yet approved in the United States as of February 2025.
The unique formulation allows for effective levels of fluralaner to be maintained for as long as 12 months. Many ticks can live in both warm and cold temperatures and are known to feed on dogs,[i] making continuous year-round protection of utmost importance for pets and people. Certain ticks can transmit serious infections .
“We take great pride in our ongoing recognition as a leader in animal health,” said Rick DeLuca, president, MSD Animal Health. “Our dedicated people—spanning research and development, commercial operations, manufacturing, and sales—consistently strive to advance The Science of Healthier Animals for our customers. The injectable formulation of BRAVECTO continues our leadership in long-acting preventative parasiticides and exemplifies our commitment to groundbreaking science that will serve both the veterinary community and pet owners.”
Since its introduction in 2014, BRAVECTO has provided long-lasting flea and tick protection, with more than 350 million doses distributed in more than 100 countries. BRAVECTO is available in a variety of formulations, including tablets, chews, and topical solutions. The safety and efficacy of this novel injectable formulation has been evaluated in numerous laboratory and clinical field studies around the world in support of the global regulatory approvals.
“Innovation lies at the heart of our diverse portfolio of parasiticides,” said Frank Guerino, associate vice president of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, MSD Animal Health. “Our company is committed to understanding the specific needs of the companion animal industry, and we align our research and development efforts to deliver effective solutions for unmet needs. With this injectable formulation of BRAVECTO, we are proud to offer an innovative product, which puts parasite control in the hands of veterinarians, thus eliminating potential compliance gaps caused by pet owner failure to administer monthly products at the proper time interval.”
“MSD Animal Health has continued to bring differentiated products like this novel injectable formulation to the market,” said Joseph Harvey, head of S&P Global Animal Health. “The company continues to build its reputation by winning awards in both Companion Animal and Food Animal categories over many years, which is a testament to its innovation and customer focus within the industry.”
This award marks the second time that the company is honored in this category. In 2015, the company won Best Product Pipeline and Best New Companion Animal Product for the Canine Influenza Vaccine H3N2. Previously, the company has won for the sixth straight year in the Best New Food Animals category for the IDAL® portfolio technology, PORCILIS® Lawsonia intramuscular vaccine for piglets, NOBILIS® SALENVAC ETC, WHISPER® ON ARRIVAL, SENSEHUB® Feedlot and CIRCUMVENT® CML. Additionally, MSD Animal Health was named Best Animal Health Company, North America in 2021, and Best Visionary CEO for Rick DeLuca in 2020.
About BRAVECTO®
Since its introduction in 2014, BRAVECTO has provided longer-lasting flea and tick protection, with more than 350 million doses distributed in 100 countries over eight years. BRAVECTO is available in a variety of formulations, including products for both dogs and cats.
The flea lifecycle can last as long as 12 weeks, and monthly treatments may leave gaps in protection. Providing pets with continuous flea and tick protection is essential – whether the pet goes outside or not. Contrary to popular belief among pet owners, fleas and ticks are not only active in the spring and summer months and are a year-round risk. Fleas and ticks can easily latch onto dogs and cats, and can spread serious diseases. Fleas are the most common external parasite found on pets. BRAVECTO products are only available through licensed veterinarians.
Important Safety Information
BRAVECTO 1-MONTH Chews: indicated for dogs 8 weeks of age and older. The most commonly reported adverse reactions include itching, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, elevated ALT, lethargy, and weight loss. BRAVECTO 1-MONTH is not effective against A. americanum in puppies less than 6 months of age. BRAVECTO Chews for Dogs: The most commonly reported adverse reactions include vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, anorexia and pruritus. In some cases, adverse events have been reported following use in breeding females. BRAVECTO Topical Solution for Dogs: The most commonly reported adverse reactions include vomiting, hair loss, diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite, and moist dermatitis/rash. BRAVECTO Topical Solution for Cats: The most commonly reported adverse reactions include vomiting, itching, diarrhea, hair loss, decreased appetite, lethargy, and scabs/ulcerated lesions. BRAVECTO Topical Solution for Cats is not effective against American dog ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. BRAVECTO PLUS Topical Solution for Cats: The most commonly reported adverse reactions include vomiting, hair loss, itching, diarrhea, lethargy, dry skin, elevated ALT, and hypersalivation. BRAVECTO PLUS has not been shown to be effective for 2 months in kittens less than 6 months of age. Use with caution in cats that are heartworm positive. The effectiveness of BRAVECTO PLUS to prevent heartworm disease after bathing or water immersion has not been evaluated.
BRAVECTO has not been shown to be effective for 12-weeks’ duration in puppies or kittens less than 6 months of age. BRAVECTO Chews and Topical Solution for dogs is not effective against the lone star tick beyond 8 weeks of dosing. BRAVECTO Topical Solution for Dogs and Cats and BRAVECTO PLUS for cats are for topical use only. Avoid oral ingestion.
The safety of BRAVECTO Topical Solution for Cats and BRAVECTO PLUS has not been established in breeding, pregnant, and lactating cats.
All BRAVECTO products contain fluralaner, which is a member of the isoxazoline class. This class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, ataxia, and seizures. Seizures have been reported in dogs receiving isoxazoline class drugs, even in dogs without a history of seizures. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. Neurologic adverse reactions have been reported in cats receiving isoxazoline class drugs, even in cats without a history of neurologic disorders. Use with caution in cats with a history of neurologic disorders.
About MSD Animal Health
At MSD, known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA in the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world’s most challenging diseases. MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business of MSD. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, MSD Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. MSD Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. MSD Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.msd-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).
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This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline candidates that the candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
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[i] References [1] Probst J, Springer A, Topp AK, Bröker M, Williams H, Dautel H, Kahl O, Strube C. Winter activity of questing ticks (Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus) in Germany− Evidence from quasi-natural tick plots, field studies and a tick submission study. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. 2023 Nov 1;14(6):102225.