Bayer Hails Updated Heartworm Guidelines as Pivotal to Reducing Incidence Among Dogs and Cats

SHAWNEE, Kan., Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer HealthCare LLC, Animal Health Division applauds the American Heartworm Society (AHS) for its release of revised guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of canine and feline heartworm. The AHS guidelines — which address disease diagnostics, prevention, lack of efficacy and adulticidal therapy — were announced in tandem with an educational initiative aimed at helping veterinary teams and pet owners work together to reduce the incidence of heartworm infection.

The guidelines' key recommendations included annual heartworm screening (antigen testing for all dogs), a multi-modal approach for heartworm treatment in dogs, and year-round use of preventive therapy for all dogs and cats. A new section incorporated into the revised guidelines reported an increase in the number of lack of efficacy reports on heartworm preventives to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These concerns and new studies exploring the efficacy of heartworm preventive products prompted AHS members to revise the guidelines to reflect the latest data available, according to Cristiano von Simson, DVM, MBA, director of veterinary technical services at Bayer Animal Health, as well as a member of the AHS executive board and a co-author of the revised guidelines.

The new section, entitled "Reports of Lack of Efficacy," also referenced the findings of published studies involving dogs that examined the susceptibility of the MP3 strain of heartworm to various heartworm preventives. As noted in the guidelines, "Looking at these three studies collectively, it was evident the MP3 isolate had decreased susceptibility to single monthly doses of ivermectin, milbemycin and selamectin, but was susceptible to three consecutive monthly doses of milbemycin and a single dose of topical moxidectin."(1) This reduced susceptibility is based on single-dose laboratory studies.

The three studies referenced in the guidelines include a comparative study that evaluated the efficacy of four leading heartworm preventives administered once each in accordance with label recommendations 30 days following infection with the laboratory-maintained MP3 strain.(2) The relevance of these in vivo single-dose studies has not been demonstrated for all heartworm strains and additional research is needed to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of MP3-like isolates in the field. This laboratory study confirmed that Bayer's Advantage Multi® for Dogs (imidacloprid + moxidectin) Topical Solution was 100 percent effective after a single treatment based on clinical trials.

In addition to the guidelines, the American Heartworm Society launched a year-long campaign aimed at providing veterinarians with heartworm educational materials for themselves and pet owners. An online resource features client education handouts, case studies and scientific articles. According to the AHS, new materials will be added monthly. The guidelines and campaign resources may be accessed at the AHS website, http://www.heartwormsociety.org/.

"Heartworm disease remains a very serious threat to the health of dogs and cats, despite the best efforts of the veterinary community and pet owners, and due to environmental factors beyond our control," said Dr. von Simson. "I believe the American Heartworm Society's updated heartworm guidelines and the education campaign will be catalysts in strengthening the partnership between veterinarians and pet owners to keep pets protected by heartworm preventive products all year, resulting in better health and better lives for America's dogs and cats."

About Advantage Multi® for Dogs
For more information on Advantage Multi® for Dogs and heartworm disease, visit http://www.advantage-multi.com/.

CAUTION: Available only from a licensed veterinarian. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Do not administer this product orally. Do not use this product on cats. WARNINGS: For the first 30 minutes after application: Ensure that dogs cannot lick the product from application sites on themselves or other treated dogs, and separate treated dogs from one another and from other pets to reduce the risk of accidental ingestion. Ingestion of this product by dogs may cause serious adverse reactions including depression, salivation, dilated pupils, incoordination, panting, and generalized muscle tremors. In avermectin sensitive dogs, the signs may be more severe and may include coma and death. HUMAN WARNINGS: Children should not contact application site for two (2) hours.

About Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 16.913 billion (2010), is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide.

With sales of EUR 1,120 million (2010), Bayer's Animal Health division is one of the world's leading manufacturers of veterinary drugs. The business manufactures and markets approximately 100 different veterinary drugs and care products for food-supplying animals and companion animals. U.S. Headquarters for Bayer HealthCare LLC, Animal Health Division is located in Shawnee, Kansas. Find more information at www.bayerhealthcare.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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(1) American Heartworm Society, "Current Canine Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Prevention, and Management of Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis)," Revised January 2012, p.14; http://www.heartwormsociety.org/veterinary-resources/canine-guidelines.html. Accessed February 20, 2012.

(2) Blagburn, B.L., Dillon, A.R., Arther, R.G., Butler, J.M., Newton J.C., "Comparative efficacy of four commercially available heartworm preventive products against the MP3 laboratory strain of Dirofilaria immitis," Vet Parasitol. 2011 Mar 10;176(2-3):189-94.

SOURCE Bayer HealthCare LLC