BackgroundFluralaner is a novel systemic insecticide and acaricide. The purpose of these studies was to investigate the pharmacokinetic properties of fluralaner in Beagle dogs following single oral or intravenous (i.v.) administration.MethodsFollowing the oral administration of 12.5, 25 or 50 mg fluralaner/kg body weight (BW), formulated as chewable tablets or i.v. administration of 12.5 mg fluralaner/kg BW, formulated as i.v. solution to 24 Beagles, plasma samples were collected until 112 days after treatment. Plasma concentrations of fluralaner were measured using HPLC-MS/MS. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-compartmental methods.ResultsAfter oral administration, maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) were reached within 1 day on average. Fluralaner was quantifiable in plasma for up to 112 days after single oral and i.v. treatment. The apparent half-life of fluralaner was 12–15 days and the mean residence time was 15–20 days. The apparent volume of distribution of fluralaner was 3.1 L/kg, and clearance was 0.14 L/kg/day.ConclusionsFluralaner is readily absorbed after single-dose oral administration, and has a long elimination half-life, long mean residence time, relatively high apparent volume of distribution, and low clearance. These pharmacokinetic characteristics help to explain the prolonged activity of fluralaner against fleas and ticks on dogs after a single oral dose.

Rose, M, Menge, M, Bohland, C, Zschiesche, E, Wilhelm, C, Kilp, S, Metz, W, Allan, M, Röpke, R, Nürnberger, M Pharmacokinetics of tildipirosin in porcine plasma, lung tissue, and bronchial fluid and effects of test conditions on in vitro activity against reference strains and field isolates of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 36, 140–153. The pharmacokinetics of tildipirosin (Zuprevo® 40 mg/mL solution for injection for pigs), a novel 16‐membered‐ring macrolide for the treatment for swine respiratory disease (SRD), was investigated in studies collecting blood plasma and postmortem samples of lung tissue and bronchial fluid (BF) from swine. In view of factors influencing the in vitro activity of macrolides, and for the interpretation of tildipirosin pharmacokinetics in relation to minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), additional experiments were conducted to study the effects of pH, carbon dioxide‐enriched atmosphere, buffers, and serum on tildipirosin MICs for various reference strains and Actinobacillus (A.) pleuropneumoniae field isolates. After single intramuscular (i.m.) injection at 4 mg/kg body weight, maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was 0.9 μg/mL observed within 23 min (Tmax). Mean residence time from the time of dosing to the time of last measurable concentration (MRTlast) and terminal half‐life (T1/2) both were about 4 days. A dose–response relationship with no significant sex effect is observed for area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time 0 to the last sampling time with a quantifiable drug concentration (AUClast) over the range of doses up to 6 mg/kg. However, linear dose proportionality could not be proven with statistical methods. The time–concentration profile of tildipirosin in BF and lung far exceeded that in blood plasma. In lung, tildipirosin concentrations reached 3.1 μg/g at 2 h, peaked at 4.3 μg/g at day 1, and slowly declined to 0.8 μg/g at day 17. In BF, tildipirosin levels were 14.3, 7.0, and 6.5 μg/g at days 5, 10, and 14. T1/2 in lung was ∼7 days. Tildipirosin is rapidly and extensively distributed to the respiratory tract followed by slow elimination. Culture media pH and carbon dioxide‐enriched atmosphere (CO2‐EA) had a marked impact on in vitro activity of tildipirosin in reference strains of various rapidly growing aerobic and fastidious bacteria including Histophilus (H.) somni ATCC 700025 and A. pleuropneumoniae ATCC 27090. For A. pleuropneumoniae ATCC 27090 testing conditions without CO2‐EA resulted in reduced acidification of culture media pH and a reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentrations compared to standard in vitro test conditions by 2 log2 dilution steps (4‐fold) from 8 to 2 μg/mL. Supplementary buffering of standard culture media resulted in a reduction in the A. pleuropneumoniae (n = 8) MIC range by 4 log2 dilution steps (16‐fold) from 8–16 to 0.5–1 μg/mL. Incremental supplementation of culture media with 50% serum resulted in noticeable shifts to lower minimum or maximum MICs by at least 2 log2 dilution steps (≥4‐...

The pharmacokinetics of tildipirosin (Zuprevo(®) 180 mg/mL solution for injection for cattle), a novel 16-membered macrolide for treatment, control, and prevention of bovine respiratory disease, were investigated in studies collecting blood plasma, lung tissue, and in vivo samples of bronchial fluid (BF) from cattle. After single subcutaneous (s.c.) injection at 4 mg/kg body weight, maximum plasma concentration (C(max)) was 0.7 μg/mL. T(max) was 23 min. Mean residence time from the time of dosing to the time of last measurable concentration (MRT(last)) and terminal half-life (T(1/2) ) was 6 and 9 days, respectively. A strong dose-response relationship with no significant sex effect was shown for both C(max) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to the last sampling time with a quantifiable drug concentration (AUC(last) ) over the range of doses up to 6 mg/kg. Absolute bioavailability was 78.9%. The volume of distribution based on the terminal phase (V(z)) was 49.4 L/kg, and the plasma clearance was 144 mL/h/kg. The time-concentration profile of tildipirosin in BF and lung far exceeded those in blood plasma. In lung, tildipirosin concentrations reached 9.2 μg/g at 4 h, peaked at 14.8 μg/g at day 1, and slowly declined to 2.0 μg/g at day 28. In BF, the concentration of tildipirosin reached 1.5 and 3.0 μg/g at 4 and 10 h, maintained a plateau of about 3.5 μg/g between day 1 and 3, and slowly declined to 1.0 at day 21. T(1/2) in lung and BF was approximately 10 and 11 days. Tildipirosin is rapidly and extensively distributed to the respiratory tract followed by slow elimination.

BackgroundFluralaner is a novel systemic insecticide and acaricide that provides long acting efficacy in dogs after a single oral treatment. This study investigated the safety of oral administration of fluralaner in chewable tablets to dogs at the highest recommended treatment dose and at multiples of this dose.MethodsThirty-two (16 male and 16 female) healthy 8-week old Beagle dogs weighing 2.0 - 3.6 kg at first administration were included in the study. Fluralaner was administered on three occasions at 8-week intervals at doses of up to 56, 168, and 280 mg fluralaner/kg body weight, equivalent to 1, 3, and 5 times the highest recommended treatment dose of fluralaner; sham dosed dogs served as controls.During the study, all dogs were clinically observed, and their health was carefully monitored including body weight development, food consumption and measurement of hematology, coagulation, clinical chemistry (including measurement of levels of ACTH and C-reactive protein) and urinalysis. Following euthanasia of the dogs, complete gross post mortem examination, including organ weight determination, and histopathological examination of multiple tissues were conducted.ResultsThere were no clinical findings related to fluralaner treatment. Statistically significant differences between the treated groups and the control group were observed for some clinical pathology parameters and organ weights; none of these findings were considered to be of clinical relevance.ConclusionsOral administration of fluralaner at the highest recommended treatment dose (56 mg/kg) at 8-week intervals is well tolerated and has a safety margin of more than five in healthy dogs eight weeks of age or older and weighing at least 2 kg.

BackgroundBravecto™ Chewable Tablets for Dogs, containing fluralaner as active ingredient, is an innovative treatment for flea and tick infestations that provides safe, rapid and long acting efficacy after a single oral administration in dogs. Topically applied fluralaner provides similar safe, rapid and long acting efficacy, both in dogs and in cats. The pharmacokinetic profile of fluralaner was evaluated in dogs and in cats following either topical or intravenous administration.MethodsTwenty four dogs and 24 cats received three different topical doses, with the mid-dose based on the respective minimum recommended dose, and one intravenous dose. Plasma samples were collected for 112 days and fluralaner concentrations were quantified using a validated high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using non-compartmental methods.ResultsIn dogs, fluralaner was readily absorbed from the topical administration site into the skin, subjacent tissues and blood. Fluralaner plasma concentrations showed an apparent plateau between ~ day 7 and 63, with individual tmax seen within this time period. After the plasma plateau, concentrations declined slowly and were quantifiable for more than 12 weeks. In cats, fluralaner was readily systemically absorbed from the topical administration site, reaching maximum concentrations (Cmax) in plasma between 3 and 21 days post administration, after which concentrations declined slowly, and were also quantifiable for more than 12 weeks. Systemic exposure, as shown by Cmax and the area under the concentration versus time curve from time 0 to the last measurable concentration (AUC(0→t)) increased proportionally with dose in both species. Following intravenous administration fluralaner showed a relatively high apparent volume of distribution (Vz), a low plasma clearance (Cl), a long terminal half-life (t1/2) and a long mean residence time (MRT); thereby demonstrating a long persistence of fluralaner in both species.ConclusionsThe pharmacokinetic characteristics of fluralaner explain its prolonged activity against fleas and ticks on both dogs and cats after a single topical administration.

BackgroundFluralaner is a novel systemic ectoparasiticide for dogs providing long-acting flea- and tick-control after a single oral dose. The pharmacokinetics of orally administered drugs may be influenced by feeding. This study investigated the influence of concurrent feeding on fluralaner pharmacokinetics.MethodsTwelve fasted or fed beagles received a single oral administration of 25 mg fluralaner/kg body weight in a chewable tablet. Plasma samples were collected at multiple post-treatment time points for fluralaner concentration analysis. Clinical observations were performed on all dogs at regular intervals throughout the study.ResultsFluralaner was readily absorbed in fasted and fed dogs administered at a dose of 25 mg/kg BW with a similar mean tmax for both groups. In fed dogs, AUC and Cmax were increased compared to fasted dogs by a factor of 2.5 and 2.1 respectively. The difference in AUC and Cmax between the fed and fasted groups was statistically significant. No adverse events were observed following oral fluralaner administration to fasted and fed dogs.ConclusionsFluralaner is absorbed to a considerable extent in fasted and fed dogs. Administration of fluralaner chewable tablets with food significantly increases bioavailability.

BackgroundFluralaner is a novel systemic ectoparasiticide for dogs providing long-acting flea- and tick-control after a single oral dose. This study investigated the safety of oral administration of fluralaner at 3 times the highest expected clinical dose to Multi Drug Resistance Protein 1 (MDR1(-/-)) gene defect Collies.MethodsSixteen Collies homozygous for the MDR1 deletion mutation were included in the study. Eight Collies received fluralaner chewable tablets once at a dose of 168 mg/kg; eight sham dosed Collies served as controls. All Collies were clinically observed until 28 days following treatment.ResultsNo adverse events were observed subsequent to fluralaner treatment of MDR1(-/-) Collies at three times the highest expected clinical dose.ConclusionsFluralaner chewable tablets are well tolerated in MDR1(-/-) Collies following oral administration.

BackgroundFluralaner is a novel systemic ectoparasiticide for dogs providing immediate and persistent flea, tick and mite control after a single oral dose. Ivermectin has been used in dogs for heartworm prevention and at off label doses for mite and worm infestations. Ivermectin pharmacokinetics can be influenced by substances affecting the p-glycoprotein transporter, potentially increasing the risk of ivermectin neurotoxicity. This study investigated ivermectin blood plasma pharmacokinetics following concurrent administration with fluralaner.FindingsTen Beagle dogs each received a single oral administration of either 56 mg fluralaner (Bravecto™), 0.3 mg ivermectin or 56 mg fluralaner plus 0.3 mg ivermectin/kg body weight. Blood plasma samples were collected at multiple post-treatment time points over a 12-week period for fluralaner and ivermectin plasma concentration analysis.Ivermectin blood plasma concentration profile and pharmacokinetic parameters Cmax, tmax, AUC∞ and t½ were similar in dogs administered ivermectin only and in dogs administered ivermectin concurrently with fluralaner, and the same was true for fluralaner pharmacokinetic parameters.ConclusionsConcurrent administration of fluralaner and ivermectin does not alter the pharmacokinetics of either compound. Based on the plasma pharmacokinetic profile and the clinical observations, there is no evident interaction between fluralaner and ivermectin, and co-administration does not increase the risk of ivermectin associated neurotoxicity.