Fort Dodge Animal Health, a division of Wyeth, announced the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved ProMeris for dogs, a low-volume, topical spot-on, to effectively control existing flea and tick infestations and prevent re-infestations on dogs and puppies eight weeks and older. ProMeris for cats, a topical spot-on for the effective control of existing flea infestations and to prevent re-infestation on cats and kittens eight weeks and older, was introduced in June 2007.

"The new ProMeris line gives veterinarians and pet owners a new weapon to fight today's fleas and ticks, which can be vectors of serious disease and health conditions," says Rami Cobb, BVSc (Hons), MACVSc, senior vice president of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Fort Dodge Animal Health. "Metaflumizone has never before been used to control fleas and research shows they are readily susceptible. Amitraz, the second active ingredient in ProMeris for dogs, is a well-established tickicide and provides dogs with up to four weeks of tick control. Amitraz works by disrupting the tick's normal nerve function, leading to reduced feeding and attachment, paralysis and death of the tick."

ProMeris for dogs is the only product available to control fleas that contains the active ingredient metaflumizone, a new compound in the animal health industry. Its new mode of action attacks fleas' nervous systems by blocking voltage dependent sodium channels, which results in paralysis and death of the flea.

While monthly application is generally recommended for optimal flea and tick control, research results show ProMeris for dogs effectively controls fleas and protects against re-infestation for up to six weeks, and may be used as part of a treatment strategy for dogs suffering from flea allergy dermatitis.

ProMeris for dogs also provides broad-spectrum control of ticks including the Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes scapularis), Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum), which can transmit serious diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Ehrlichiosis.

ProMeris for dogs is waterproof and gentle enough to be used on dogs and puppies eight weeks and older. It is available in five sizes to accurately dose dogs and puppies of different body weights. Each size is available in three- or six-dose packages. ProMeris for dogs will be available for sale to veterinarians in the fall of 2007.

ProMeris for Dogs Available Exclusively From Veterinarians ProMeris for dogs is only available through practicing veterinarians involved in an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Fort Dodge established a veterinarian-only sales policy for ProMeris for dogs because it believes veterinarians should be pet owners' primary source of information to help ensure the health and well-being of their companion animals. Fort Dodge will not sell ProMeris for dogs through over-the-counter (OTC) channels, including Internet pharmacies.

Fort Dodge has created a Track and Trace system, a proprietary technology to help ensure ProMeris for dogs will only be available from veterinarians. Track and Trace features a barcode tracking system, which monitors the movement of each individual dose of ProMeris for dogs from manufacture to the individual veterinary practice that purchases the product. With the Track and Trace system, any product found in the OTC channel can be traced back to the purchasing customer.