Merial Introduces CERTIFECT™: A New Standard in the Fight Against Ticks That May Carry Disease

DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ticks are growing in number and are being found in new areas, putting the family dog at increased risk for infestations.² As a result, dogs are also at increased risk of tick-borne diseases, which have now been found in most U.S. states.³ Cases of Lyme disease and anaplasmosis in pets more than doubled from 2009 to 2010 – disturbing evidence that ticks are an expanding threat.⁴

“It is becoming increasingly challenging to protect our dogs from tick-borne infections, since ticks are now in more places and in greater numbers than ever”

To address this issue, the makers of No. 1 veterinarian-recommended flea and tick control product⁵ FRONTLINE Plus have introduced CERTIFECT, an advanced topical solution that provides proven flea protection with added tick-killing power. CERTIFECT kills ticks in 18 hours,¹ whereas the current standard for tick-killing efficacy is 24-48 hours.⁶ It is also the only topical product that detaches ticks. Just like FRONTLINE Plus, CERTIFECT destroys the flea life cycle, giving dog owners, with the help of their veterinarians, a new solution in the fight against these pests.

Tick Control and Pet Health

Urban and suburban backyards are now host to a number of wildlife known to carry ticks, including deer, coyotes, opossums, raccoons, rodents and even wild turkeys. Domestic and feral cats can also bring ticks into our yards.² As ticks move in, dogs in these areas may be at increased risk of catching infectious diseases.²

“It is becoming increasingly challenging to protect our dogs from tick-borne infections, since ticks are now in more places and in greater numbers than ever,” says Dr. Mike Murray, technical marketing director for Merial. “Pet owners and their dogs can really benefit from the new tick-killing power of CERTIFECT, which helps protect dogs against ticks which may transmit several dangerous diseases.”

CERTIFECT starts killing all stages of ticks in six hours and kills up to 100 percent within 18 hours.¹ It also causes ticks to detach from dogs⁷ and prevents reinfestation for up to one month.¹

Speed of kill for ticks is of vital importance because the sooner a tick is killed, the less likely it is to transmit infectious agents. CERTIFECT starts rapidly killing black-legged ticks, which transmit the infectious agent known to cause Lyme disease, in just six hours.¹

How CERTIFECT Works

CERTIFECT is made for all dogs at risk for tick exposure that still need proven flea control. It uses a small amount of amitraz to potentiate the tick-killing power of fipronil, which along with (S)-methoprene, are the active ingredients in FRONTLINE Plus.¹ Amitraz and fipronil act together against ticks’ nervous systems to kill more ticks and increase the speed of kill compared to equivalent concentrations of fipronil alone.⁸

CERTIFECT is a topical formulation applied to two places on a dog’s neck: at the base of the skull and between the shoulder blades where the dog cannot lick.¹ CERTIFECT has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for puppies older than eight weeks and greater than or equal to five pounds.¹

CERTIFECT should not be used on cats. In studies, no adverse effects were noted on cats in homes with treated dogs.⁹

CERTIFECT will be available in most states starting July 16, 2011, from licensed veterinarians. Dog owners interested in CERTIFECT should consult their veterinarian to determine whether their dogs should stay on their current flea and tick control product or make the switch to CERTIFECT.

About Merial

Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 5,600 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2010 sales were more than $2.6 billion.

Merial is a Sanofi company.

www.merial.com

¹ CERTIFECT Label.

² Blagburn B, Dryden M. Biology, Treatment, and Control of Flea and Tick Infestations. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Practice. 2009; 39: 1173-1200.

³ Rosenthal, Marie. Tick-Borne Diseases Found in Most States, Expert Says. http://www.capcvet.org/articles/article14.html Accessed April 14, 2011.

⁴ Companion Animal Parasite Council. Parasite Prevalence – Interactive Maps. http://www.capcvet.org/maps/index.html. Accessed May 13, 2011.

⁵ MDI Data on File.

⁶ Marchiondo AA, Holdsworth PA, Green P, Blagburn BL, Jacobs DE. World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology. (W.A.A.V.P.) guidelines for evaluating the efficacy of parasiticides for the treatment, prevention and control of flea and tick infestation on dogs and cats. Vet Parasitol 2007:145(3-4);332-344.

⁷ Prullage JB, Hair JA, Everett WR, Yoon SS, et al. The prevention of attachment and the detachment effects of a novel combination of fipronil, amitraz and (S)-methoprene for Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Dermacentor variabilis on dogs. Veterinary Parasitology. 2011.

⁸ Prullage JB, Cawthorne WG, Le Hir de Fallois LP, Timmons PR. Synergy between fipronil and amitraz in a Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick residual contact test. Experimental and Applied Acarology. 2011.

⁹ Data on File at Merial.