FDA approves two new equine reproductive drugs

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two new drugs to aid equine reproductive health.

The first approval concerns SucroMate Equine, which regulates ovulation in mares through a single injection to increase the likelihood of conception for both naturally bred and artificially inseminated horses. Manufactured by CreoSalus subsidiary Thorn BioScience in Louisville, Ky., the drug will be available to veterinarians through distributors by February, the start of the 2011 breeding season.

Also approved recently by the FDA is Equidone Gel (domperidone) for fescue toxicosis prevention by Dechra Veterinary Products of Overland Park, Kan. Fescue toxicosis can cause serious reproductive problems in horses, according to the FDA. The new treatment works at the cellular level to block the agonistic action of toxins produced by an endophytic fungus living on fescue grass, and is administered orally by syringe once a day, according to the FDA.