The development of a registered Abamectin Anthelmintic for Goats

Summary

At the time of this project, registered anthelmintic compounds for goats were from the benzimidazole group. The most effective class, the macrocyclic lactones, were not registered for use in goats. The legislation covering the use of such products precluded the use of other than registered products. Consequently, goat producers did not have available to them the most effective class of anthelmintic to combat worm burdens and manage resistance.
The Goat Industry Council of Australia (GICA) indicated an interest in a commercial organization developing a macrocyclic lactone pour on product for use in goats and registering the product for use in goats. The high cost of research and development of an animal health product limits commercial interest to those markets that have sufficient value to justify the investment. The goat industry is marginal or below the threshold for commercial interest so the project required joint resources from Virbac and GICA. Virbac had at the time a suitable product in development and were prepared to undertake the necessary research and development to obtain a registration. Virbac provided a well-equipped and staffed analytical laboratory and all analytical services with validated methods for stability indicating of formulation and blood plasma analysis for bioavailability.
Virbacalso conducted animal phase trials and efficacy, bioavailability, safety and residue trials were to be undertaken with cooperating goat producers identified though GICA. The outcome of this project, namely the registration of an anthelmintic for goats was to be delivered by Virbac direct to the industry in the form of a commercial product either a pour on and oral product for use in controlling worms and managing resistance in goat herds.