Elanco Animal Health, an animal pharmaceutical company in Greenfield, Ind., has launched an oral itraconazole treatment for ringworm in cats, marketed under the name Itrafungol. Elanco submitted a New Animal Drug Application for Itrafungol with the Food and Drug Administration and received approval this past November. While itraconazole is available in formulations for humans and compounded into a form for veterinary patients, Tony Rumschlag, DVM, director, regional consulting veterinarians for Elanco Animal Health, said, “Itrafungol is the first FDA-approved formulation of itraconazole for veterinary use in cats.” Having met the requirements under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the FDA granted Elanco five years of marketing exclusivity for Itrafungol. Meeting a Need “In fact, we were encouraged by dermatologists to bring this product to market,” he said. “Elanco invested significant time and effort to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of this product in cats.” Itrafungol outperforms topical medications, which are commonly used to treat feline ringworm, because they are easily licked off by washing or grooming, the company stated. Sold in 52-milliter bottles at a list price of $32.50 a bottle, one bottle treats a 10-pound cat for the entire three-week treatment protocol, Rumschlag noted. Itrafungol is only available to veterinarians through Elanco’s sales force and authorized distributors. Originally published in the March 2017 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Did you enjoy this article? Then subscribe today!
