dvm360 product report: FDA approves NexGard for Lyme prevention, plus more product news
VetVance, Scratchpay, Wedgewood and VetSource round out our regular product rundown.
Boehringer Ingelheim
FDA label claim for parasiticide to prevent Lyme disease
Merial, now part of Boehringer Ingelheim, has received approval from the FDA to expand the label claims for NexGard (afoxolaner). The flea and tick control product is now approved to prevent Borrelia burgdorferi infections as a direct result of NexGard killing Ixodes scapularis vector ticks, commonly called black-legged ticks (or deer ticks). The FDA approval is based on two controlled laboratory studies that showed that NexGard effectively prevented the transmission of B. burgdorferi infections after dogs were infested with wild-caught I. scapularis ticks 28 days after treatment with NexGard. In addition to killing black-legged ticks, NexGard also kills lone star ticks, American dog ticks and brown dog ticks, and it prevents flea infestations by killing adult fleas before they lay eggs.
Zoetis
VetVance mobile application
The mobile version of the VetVance website is a free educational resource that provides on-the-go access to the online content offered through the VetVance platform. Available for use on iOS smartphones and tablets and Android smartphones, the app features many of the tools found on the VetVance website, including courses, course progress tracking and registrant profiles. It also provides students and recent graduates with content relating to professional development, business skills, professional stewardship, financial literacy and personal wellness. It also assists in building a professional community among registrants with similar areas of interest and allows eligible students to apply for the Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship.
Scratch Financial
Longer-term, no-interest payment option
Scratchpay, a provider of pet care payment plans, has announced a new zero percent APR financing option. The new payment plan provides qualified pet owners with a three-month, interest-free option for financing veterinary care, from routine pet checkups to emergency visits. Scratchpay's payment product does not result in a hard credit inquiry for veterinary clients; applicants receive a soft credit inquiry when their rate is checked, leaving their credit scores unaffected. There are also no deferred interest charges, hidden fees or prepayment penalties. The cost to veterinarians is a 5 percent fee per Scratchpay transaction.
Wedgewood, Vetsource
Partnership for home-delivered compounded drugs
Wedgewood Pharmacy, a U.S. compounding pharmacy specializing in animal health, and Vetsource, a veterinary-industry home-delivery pharmacy provider, have partnered to add thousands of commonly prescribed compounded medications to Vetsource's home-delivery catalog. Wedgewood makes customized medications for pets and horses when commercially available drugs do not meet their needs. Vetsource provid
es innovative pharmacy, technology and business services to more than 8,000 veterinary practices across the country. Using Vetsource's mobile-optimized ScriptRight e-prescribing tool, veterinarians can write, review and approve prescriptions from any web-enabled device, even when they're away from the practice. Pet owners also can use Vetsource's tools through their veterinarians' online stores to request prescription refills and order nutritional and over-the-counter healthcare products.
