FDA greenlights stopgap NWS measures

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FDA greenlights a screwworm stop‑gap

New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) has been marching north through Mexico, putting U.S. vets and pet owners on edge. On October 24, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allowing lotilaner (Credelio; Elanco) to be prescribed by veterinarians for treatment of NWS myiasis in dogs—a first-of-its-kind emergency authorization for this indication. Practically, this gives clinicians a legally sanctioned tool while regulators and industry race longer‑term solutions through the pipeline.

The EUA letter specifies use under a veterinarian’s oversight, clear labeling that Credelio is not approved for this use, and distribution/communications that include the FDA‑authorized fact sheet. Context matters: USDA has been hardening the border—deploying 100+ traps across Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, issuing a response playbook, and confirming the U.S. case to date involved a traveler, not domestic spread.

lotilaner is an isoxazoline typically used for fleas and ticks. The EUA doesn’t replace wound debridement, supportive care, and vigilant follow‑up. Veterinarians should set expectations that this is a temporary measure tied to the federal emergency declaration and could be amended or revoked.

The bottom line: this is a credible tool with limited scope and sends a strong signal that agencies are in “all‑hands” mode to keep NWS out of U.S. animal populations

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Librela litigation update: class action dismissed (for now)

In a closely watched case, a New Jersey federal judge dismissed—without prejudice—a proposed class action filed by eight pet owners who alleged Zoetis misrepresented safety of bedinvetmab (Librela) for canine OA pain. The October ruling trims or tosses several theories but leaves the door open for plaintiffs to re‑plead certain claims, a nuance worth noting when clients bring headlines to the appointment.

Coverage notes the court’s unpublished opinion and the “mostly escapes” framing: this wasn’t a merits finding that Librela is safe/unsafe; it’s a pleading‑stage decision about whether the complaint, as drafted, stated viable claims.

For practices, we have two takeaways:

1) keep discussions grounded in labeled indications, common adverse events, and your own pharmacovigilance experience

2) remind clients that FDA continues to regulate the product and that suspected adverse events should be reported.

This case joins a noisy discourse (from lawyer FAQs to social posts), so providing a measured, evidence‑first communication is the differentiator. ‘

We’ll keep an eye on any amended complaints or parallel filings and keep you updated as usual.

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Texas Tech’s vet school goes fully accredited

The Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine (Amarillo) earned full accreditation from the AVMA Council on Education, making it one of 31 fully accredited U.S. programs.

The school, which launched in 2018 to target rural/regional care shortages, welcomed its first class in 2021 and graduated that inaugural cohort in May 2025. University stats highlight a 97% NAVLE pass rate and 95% of grads practicing in rural/regional communities an important influx into the most needed area of the profession.

With many new schools on the horizon this is a reminder that accreditation journeys are long games (reasonable assurance → provisional → full) and that data on outcomes (NAVLE, placement) matters to regulators and employers alike.

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Quick Hits

Here are some of the other stories that caught our eye and we're following this week from around the veterinary world and animal kingdom: