Merial and its parent company, Sanofi, announced that the FDA recently approved NexGard Chewables, the company's soft beef-flavored chew that protects dogs from fleas and American dog ticks.

According to Merial, NexGard is the first and only soft beef-flavored chew approved to kill both fleas and ticks. 

"We are pleased to announce the FDA approval of NexGard as a new option for veterinarians," said Carsten Hellmann, Merial CEO. "Merial is a market leader for parasiticide products, and we have leveraged that expertise as well as our strength in chewable technologies to develop NexGard. Being on the forefront of developing innovative new products also shows our commitment to the veterinary community."

NexGard Chewables are administered once a month and have shown excellent efficacy in low doses when it comes to treating and preventing flea infestations, as well as treating and controlling the American Dog tick in adult dogs and puppies, Merial said.

The product contains the Merial-developed active ingredient afoxolaner, which is an isoxazoline-based compound featuring a unique mode of action. 

According to Merial, the company will make NexGard commercially available in time for the approaching flea and tick season. The product will only be available to pet owners by prescription, and it will be distributed in four different sizes based on the weight of dogs and puppies.

More information

For NexGard Chewables prescribing information, visit the PDF on the Merial website.