Antiparasitics for the treatment of companion animals and livestock is one of the largest global market segments in the animal health industry.
Parasitic infections caused by endo- and ectoparasites – the latter also transmitting vector-borne diseases – are among the most significant diseases worldwide, in both animals and humans.
Most of the antiparasitic active pharmaceutical ingredients were developed more than 20 years ago. Isoxazolines, which first entered the market in 2014, are one of the very rare exceptions and a true success story. Currently, the four leading animal health companies market four isoxazolines in diverse dog and cat products.
Drug and multidrug resistance is increasingly common across all parasites. In livestock, it is a significant and widespread problem. In dogs and cats, drug resistance is as yet less serious.
The discovery of novel antiparasitics is of utmost importance to overcome resistance and to fill the development pipeline.
Antiparasitics acting on endo- or ectoparasites represent the second largest segment of the global animal health market, accounting for 23% of market share. However, relatively few novel antiparasitic agents have been introduced into the market during recent decades. One exception, and a groundbreaking 21st century success story, are the isoxazolines, whose full potential has not yet been entirely explored. Unfortunately, resistance issues are present across most parasitic diseases, which generates a clear market need for novel resistance-breaking antiparasitics with new modes/mechanisms of action. Recent advances in science and technologies strongly suggest that the time is right to invest in new modalities such as parasitic vaccines or in environmentally friendly interventions.