Australian pet owners now have access to revolutionary tick and flea preventative with vet clinic operator Apiam Animal Health (ASX: AHX) having commenced sales of the injectable treatment which provides up to 12 months of  control of paralysis ticks and treatment and prevention from flea infestations.

The new technology was developed by pharmaceuticals giant Merck & Co with the same active ingredient, fluralaner, previously only available in Australia as an oral and topical form, marketed under the brand Bravecto. In an announcement in May 2023 by MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck and Co, the Company stated that Bravecto Quantum had been approved by the regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

A prescription animal remedy, annual treatments of this Bravecto long-acting product are only to be used by or under the supervision of a veterinarian, with Apiam vets having commenced treatment of dogs through its 73 vet clinics across Australia where it employs more than 330 clinical veterinarians.

The market for companion animal parasitic products in Australia is substantial. Apiam estimates that more than $400 million is spent annually on treatments including over $80 million on flea and tick preventatives.

With the introduction of a more convenient and long-lasting solution, there is potential for significant growth of both the tick and flea product market. It is estimated that currently over 65% of parasiticides are sold through specialist pet retailers and supermarkets,

For Apiam, having access to this new formulation is expected to drive an increase in clinic visits and consultations, as well as further uptake of their Best Mates subscription program. The Best Mates program currently has over 11,000 members and has seen over 30% growth over the last 12 months.

Tick and flea preventative enhances pet health

Ticks pose a serious threat to animal and human health in Australia, making continued protection critical to the health of our local animal population.

In Australia, the paralysis tick is of the most dangerous as they can cause a rapid debilitating condition, resulting in 24-hour emergency care that can require the same level of intensive care required with respiratory failure in humans. Fatality rates in dogs infected with paralysis ticks can be high depending upon the number of ticks and the length of exposure.

Flea control should also not be underestimated, with fleas living between dogs and bedding and other materials leading to conditions such as dermatitis, traversing to bites in humans.

The technology

Prior to this single dose 12 monthly application product arriving in Australia, the standard treatment for preventing tick and flea infestation has been topical and oral treatments that typically require monthly or quarterly dosage. The new product reduces the need for frequent reapplications thanks to its slow-release formulation.

As a convenient solution that can offer peace of mind to pet owners, Managing Director, Dr Chris Richards expects parasiticide sales to steadily rise as pet owners add this and other products to their list of annual treatments that can be administered concurrently or as part of a twice-yearly health program.

“We believe that this is a real opportunity for veterinarians to enhance the prevention of tick and flea programs where compliance issues associated with at-home topical or chewable products often lead to ineffective protection and subsequent emergency and critical care outcomes for pet owners,” said Dr Richards.

“The Australian launch of the new product aligns with Apiam Animal Health’s strategic focus on expanding its range of advanced pet healthcare solutions”.