FDA approves immunocontraceptive vaccine for deer

Washington

-- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted regulatory approval for a new contraceptive device for female white-tailed deer.

The immunocontraceptive vaccine, GonaCon™, can be used in white-tailed deer older than 1 year. The single-shot, multi-year vaccine stimulates the production of antibodies that bind to the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which signals the production of sex hormones, says FDA. The antibodies therefore reduce GnRH’s ability to stimulate the release of sex hormones, sexual activity is decreased, and animals remain in a non-reproductive state while the antibodies are present.

GonaCon is a restricted-use pesticide, and users must have appropriate certifications. Only USDA-WS or state wildlife management agency personnel and persons working under their authority are permitted to use the vaccine. It is meant to be used in conjunction with other wildlife management methods, says FDA, and was made available beginning in January.