SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

1. NAME OF THE VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Effipro duo 50 mg/60 mg spot-on solution for cats

Effipro comp 50 mg/60 mg spot-on solution for cats (DK, FI, NO, SE)

2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each 0.5 ml pipette contains:

Active substances:

Fipronil 50 mg

Pyriproxyfen 60 mg

Excipients:

Butylhydroxyanisole E320 0.1 mg

Butylhydroxytoluene E321 0.05 mg

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Spot-on solution.

Clear, colourless to yellowish solution.

4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Target species

Cats.

4.2 Indications for use, specifying the target species

In cats, to be used against infestations with fleas alone or in association with ticks.

Against fleas:

Treatment and prevention of infestations by fleas (Ctenocephalides felis).One treatment prevents further infestations for 5 weeks.

Prevention of the multiplication of fleas by preventing flea eggsdeveloping into adult fleas for 12 weeks after application.

The product can be used as part of a treatment strategy for the control of Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) where this has been previously diagnosed by a veterinary surgeon.

Against ticks:

Treatment of infestations by ticks (Ixodes ricinus andRhipicephalus turanicus).

One treatment provides persistent acaricidal efficacy for one week.

If ticks are present at the time of application, not all ticks may be killed within 48 hours.

4.3 Contraindications

Do not use in rabbits, as adverse reactions and even death could occur.

Do not use in case of hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients.

Wetting of the haircoat with water 2 hours before product application and twice during the claimed period of efficacy against fleas (at two week intervals against adult fleas or four week intervals against developing flea stages) was investigated during two laboratory studies. Wetting of the haircoat with water as described did not adversely affect product effectiveness.

The impact of shampooing on product effectiveness has not been investigated. If a cat requires shampooing it is recommended that this is done before applying the veterinary medicinal product.

At the beginning of the control measures, in the case of an infestation, the animal's basket, bedding and regular resting areas such as carpets and soft furnishings should be treated, with a suitable insecticide and vacuumed regularly.

To reduce environmental flea challenge, all animals living in the same household should also be treated with a suitable flea control product.

The product does not prevent ticks from attaching to animals. If the animal has been treated prior to exposure to the ticks, the ticks will be killed within 48 hours after attachment. This will usually be prior to engorgement, minimising but not excluding the risk of transmission of diseases.

Once dead, ticks will often drop off the animal. Any remaining ticks should be carefully removed, ensuring that their mouth parts are not left within the skin.

4.5 Special precautions for use

Special precautions for use in animals:

For external use only. Do not administer orally.

Animals should be weighed accurately prior to treatment.

The safety of the product has not been established in cats younger than 10weeks of ageor in cats weighing less than 1.0 kg.

Avoid contact with the animal’s eyes. In the case of accidental eye contact, flush the eyes with water.

Care should be taken to apply the product correctly as described under section 4.9. Do not apply the product on wounds or damaged skin. It is important to make sure that the veterinary medicinal product is applied directly onto an area of dry skin where the animal cannot lick it off and to make sure that animals do not lick each other following treatment.

The use of the product has not been studied in sick or debilitated cats. Use in sick or debilitated animals only in accordance with a benefit/risk assessment performed by the responsible veterinarian.

In the absence of additional safety studies, do not repeat the treatment at intervals of less than 4 weeks.

Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals:

The product may cause neurotoxicity. The product may be harmful if swallowed.

Avoid ingestion including hand-to-mouth contact. Avoid contact with skin and mouth.

Do not smoke, drink or eat during application.

Wash hands after use. In the event of accidental ingestion, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.

In the case of accidental skin contact, flush with water.

Treated animals should not be handled until the application site is dry, and children should not be allowed to play with treated animals until the application site is dry. It is therefore recommended that animals are not treated during the day, but should be treated during the early evening, and that recently treated animals should not be allowed to sleep with owners, especially children.

Keep the pipettes in the original packaging until ready for use and dispose of used pipettes immediately.

Other precautions

The product may have adverse effects on painted, varnished or other household surfaces or furnishings. Allow the application site to dry before permitting contact with such materials.

4.6 Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)

Transient cosmetic effects such as wet appearance or slight scaling may occur at the application site.

According to the accumulated experience on these active ingredients within spot on pharmaceutical forms, transient cutaneous reactions at the application site (squamosis, local alopecia, pruritus, erythema, skin discolouration) and general pruritus or alopecia may be observed after use. In very rare instances, hypersalivation, reversible neurologic symptoms (hyperesthesia, depression, nervous symptoms), respiratory signs or vomiting might occur.

4.7 Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

Laboratory studies using fipronil and pyriproxyfen have not shown any evidence of teratogenic or embryotoxic effect. Studies have not been carried out with this product in pregnant and lactating queens. Use in pregnant and lactating animals only in accordance with a benefit/risk assessment performed by the responsible veterinarian.

4.8 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

None known.

4.9 Amounts to be administered and administration route

Spot-on use.

Dosage:

For a cat weighing 1-6 kg apply one pipette of 0.5 ml per cat corresponding to the minimum recommended dose of 8.3 mg fipronil/kg b.w. and 10 mg pyriproxyfen/kg b.w..

For a cat weighing more than 6 kg a recommended dose of 1 ml should be applied, which can be achieved by applying two 0.5 ml pipettes.

Method of administration:

Remove the pipette from the overblister. Hold the pipette upright. Tap the narrow part of the pipette to ensure that the contents are within the main body of the pipette. Break the snap-off top of the spot-on pipette along the scored line.

Part the coat on the back of neck area until the skin is visible. Place the tip of the pipette on the skin and squeeze firmly several times to empty the contents evenly at one or two spots. Ensure the solution is applied to healthy skin only and avoid superficial application to the cat’s hair or run off.

Drop stop system (the product is released only by pressing the body of the pipette).

For optimal control of flea and tick infestations and flea multiplication, the treatment schedule can be based on the local epidemiological situation. However, in the absence of additional safety studies, do not repeat the treatment at intervals of less than 4 weeks (see section 4.10).

4.10 Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary

No serious adverse effects were observed in a target animal safety studyin 10-week old kittens treated with up to 5 times the maximum recommended dose 3 times at intervals of 4 weeks and with the maximum recommended dose 6 times at intervals of 4 weeks.

The risk of experiencing adverse reactions (see section 4.6) may however increase with overdosing, so animals should always be treated with correct pipette size according to bodyweight.

4.11 Withdrawal period(s)

Not applicable.

5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Ectoparasiticides for topical use, fipronil combinations.

ATCvet code: QP53AX65.

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Fipronil is an insecticide and acaricide belonging to the phenylpyrazole family. Fipronil and its metabolite fipronil sulfone act at ligand-gated chloride channels, in particular those gated by the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as well as desensitising (D) and non-desensitising (N) channels gated by glutamate (Glu, unique invertebrate ligand-gated chloride channels), thereby blocking pre- and post-synaptic transfer of chloride ions across cell membranes. This results in uncontrolled activity of the central nervous system and death of insects or acari.

Pyriproxyfenis an insect growth regulator (IGR) of the class of compounds known as juvenile hormone analogues. Pyriproxyfen sterilises adult fleas and inhibits the development of immature stages. The molecule prevents, by contact, the emergence of adult insects by blocking the development of eggs (ovicidal effect), larvae and pupae (larvicidal effect), which are subsequently eliminated. Following contact and/or ingestion by adult fleas, the molecule also acts by sterilising eggs during their maturation and before being laid. The molecule prevents contamination of the environment of treated animals with the immature stages of fleas.

Combination of fipronil and pyriproxyfen provides an insecticidal and acaricidal activity against fleas (Ctenocephalidesfelis), ticks (Rhipicephalusturanicus, Ixodesricinus) in addition to preventing flea eggs developing into adult fleas.

Such combination provides an integrated flea control which can be used against infestations with fleas alone or in association with ticks.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic particulars

Following topical application of the product, under the normal conditions of use, fipronil and pyriproxyfen are well distributed in the haircoat of the cat from the first day post application. The major metabolite of fipronil is the sulfone derivative, which also possesses insecticidal and acaricidal properties.

The concentrations of fipronil and pyriproxyfen in the haircoat decrease over time but both active substances are present for at least 84 days after application (i.e. above the lower limit of quantification (LOQ) 100 ng/g for fipronil and 50 ng/g for pyriproxyfen). Concentrations of fipronil sulfone remained below the lower limit of quantification (LOQ 100 ng/