1.

NAME OF THE VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCT

EQVALAN Oral Paste for Horses

(Ivermectin 1.87% w/w)

2.

QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Ivermectin: 1.87% w/w.

Also contains Titanium Dioxide (E171) 2.0% w/w.

For full list of excipients, see section 6.1

3.

PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Oral paste.

White paste for oral administration.

4.

CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1

Target species

Horses and donkeys.

4.2

Indications for use, specifying the target species

The product is indicated for the treatment of parasitic infestations in horses and donkeys due to:

Large strongyles

Strongylus vulgaris (adults and arterial larval stages)

S. edentatus (adults & tissue larval stages)

S. equinus (adults)

Triodontophorus spp. (adults)

Triodontophorus brevicauda

Triodontophorus serratus

Craterostomum acuticaudatum (adults)

Small Strongyles

Adult and immature (fourth stage larvae) small strongyles or cyathostomes, including benzimidazole-resistant strains:

Coronocyclus spp.

Coronocyclus coronatus

Coronocyclus labiatus

Coronocyclus labratus

Cyathostomum spp.

Cyathostomum catinatum

Cyathostomum pateratum

Cylicocyclus spp.

Cylicocyclus ashworthi

Cylicocyclus elongatus

Cylicocyclus insigne

Cylicocyclus leptostomum

Cylicocyclus nassatus

Cylicocyclus radiatus

Cylicostephanus spp.

Cylicostephanus asymetricus

Cylicostephanus bidentatus

Cylicostephanus calicatus

Cylicostephanus goldi

Cylicostephanus longibursatus

Cylicostephanus minutus

Cylicodontophorus spp.

Cylicodontophorus bicornatus

Gyalocephalus capitatus

Parapoteriostomum spp.

Parapoteriostomum euproctus

Parapoteriostomum mettami

Petrovinema spp.

Petrovinema poculatum

Poteriostomum spp.

Poteriostomum imparidentatum

Lungworms (adult and immatures)

Dictyocaulus arnfieldi

Pinworms (adult and immatures)

Oxyuris equi

Ascarids (adults and third & fourth stage larvae)

Parascaris equorum

Hairworms (adults)

Trichostrongylus axei

Large-mouth stomach worms (adults)

Habronema muscae

Neck threadworms (microfilariae)

Onchocerca spp.

Intestinal threadworms (adults)

Strongyloides westeri

Stomach bots

Oral and gastric stages of Gastrophilus spp.

4.3

Contra-indications

The product has been formulated specifically for use in horses and donkeys only. Dogs and cats may be adversely affected by the concentration of ivermectin in this product if they are allowed to ingest spilled paste or have access to used syringes.

4.4

Special warnings for each target species

Care should be taken to avoid the following practices because they increase the risk of development of resistance and could ultimately result in ineffective therapy:

• Too frequent and repeated use of anthelmintics from the same class, over an extended period of time.

• Underdosing, which may be due to underestimation of body weight, misadministration of the product, or lack of calibration of the dosing device.

Suspected clinical cases of resistance to anthelmintics should be further investigated using appropriate tests (e.g. Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test). Where the results of the test (s) strongly suggest resistance to a particular anthelmintic, an anthelmintic belonging to another pharmacological class and having a different mode of action should be used.

Resistance to macrocyclic lactones (which includes ivermectin) has been reported in Parascaris equorum in horses in a number of countries within the EU. Therefore, the use of this product should be based on local (regional, farm) epidemiological information about susceptibility of gastro-intestinal nematodes and recommendations on how to limit further selection for resistance to anthelmintics.

4.5

Special precautions for use

i. Special precautions for use in animals

No special precautions are required.

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

Do not smoke, eat or drink while handling the product.

Wash hands after use.

This product may cause skin and eye irritation. Therefore, the user should avoid contact of the product with the skin and the eyes. In the case of contact, rinse immediately with plenty of water.

In the case of accidental ingestion or eye irritation after contact seek medical advice immediately and show the package insert or the label to the physician.

4.6

Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)

Some horses carrying heavy infection of Onchocerca microfilariae have experienced oedema and pruritus following dosing, assumed to be the result of death of large numbers of microfilariae. These signs resolve within a few days but symptomatic treatment may be advisable.

4.7

Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

Horses and donkeys of all ages, including pregnant mares and breeding stallions, have been treated with no adverse effect.

4.8

Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

The product has been used in conjunction with other equine health care products and no interactions have been identified.

4.9

Amounts to be administered and administration route

Administer orally to both horses and donkeys at the recommended dose level of 0.2 mg ivermectin per kilogram of bodyweight. Each syringe delivers 120 mg ivermectin, sufficient to treat 600 kg of bodyweight.

To ensure administration of a correct dose, body weight should be determined as accurately as possible; accuracy of the dosing device should be checked.

Dosing instructions

Each weight marking on the syringe plunger will deliver sufficient paste to treat 100 kg bodyweight. Unlock the knurled ring by making 1/4 turn and slide the knurled ring up the plunger shaft so that the side nearest the barrel is at the prescribed weight marking. Turn the knurled ring 1/4 turn to lock in place. Remove the plastic cap from the tip of the nozzle. Make sure the horse's mouth contains no feed. Insert the syringe into the horse's mouth at the interdental space. Advance the plunger as far as it will go, depositing the medication on the base of the tongue.

Parasite control program

All horses and donkeys should be included in a regular parasite control program, with particular attention being paid to mares, foals and yearlings. Foals should be treated initially at 6 to 8 weeks of age, and routine treatment repeated as appropriate.

The product is highly effective against gastro-intestinal, cutaneous and pulmonary nematodes and bots of horses. Regular treatment will reduce the chances of verminous arteritis and colic caused by Strongylus vulgaris. With its broad spectrum, the product is well suited to be the major medication in parasite control programs and is well suited to be the major component in a rotational program.

4.10

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

Mild transitory signs (slowed pupillary light response and depression) have been seen at a dose of 1.8 mg/kg (9 times the recommended dose level). Other signs seen at higher doses include mydriasis, ataxia, tremors, stupor, coma and death. The less severe signs have been transitory. No antidote has been identified; however, symptomatic therapy may be beneficial.

4.11

Withdrawal periods

Donkeys - meat: 21 days

Horses - meat: 21 days

5.

PHARMACOLOGICAL or IMMUNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

ATC Vet Code: QP54AA01

5.1

Pharmacodynamic properties

Ivermectin is a member of the macrocyclic lactone class of endectocides which have a unique mode of action. Compounds of the class bind selectively and with high affinity to glutamate-gated chloride ion channels which occur in invertebrate nerve and muscle cells. This leads to an increase in the permeability of the cell membrane to chloride ions with hyperpolarization of the nerve or muscle cell, resulting in paralysis and death of the parasite. Compounds of this class may also interact with other ligand-gated chloride channels, such as those gated by the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

The margin of safety for compounds of this class is attributable to the fact that mammals do not have glutamate-gates chloride channels, the macrocyclic lactones have a low affinity for other mammalian ligand-gated chloride channels and they do not readily cross the blood-brain barrier.

5.2

Pharmacokinetic properties

Maximum plasma concentration

In the horse the maximum plasma concentration (average of 32 ng/ml) is reached 6 hours after administration of a dose rate of 0.3 mg ivermectin per kg bodyweight. This peak falls off gradually to an average level of 2 ng/ml at 10 days.

Excretion: length of time and route

Ivermectin residues (expressed as dihydro B_1a) in the liver, muscle, kidney, fat and blood were determined with a liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection. No residue (except one 28 day fat sample) reached the limit of detection of > 2 ppb 21, 28 and 42 days post dose.

6.

PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1

List of excipients

Titanium dioxide (E171)

Hyprolose

Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Propylene Glycol

6.2

Major incompatibilities

None known.

6.3

Shelf-life

Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 3 years.

6.4

Special precautions for storage

Do not store above 25^oC.

Protect from light.

6.5

Nature and composition of immediate packaging

Disposable white, opaque, polypropylene syringe barrel and plunger with a white, opaque, low density polyethylene cap.

6.6

Special precautions for the disposal of unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived from the use of such products, if appropriate

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO FISH AND AQUATIC LIFE. Do not contaminate ponds, waterways or ditches with the product or used container.

Any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived from such veterinary medicinal products should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

7.

MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Merial Animal Health Limited

PO Box 327

Sandringham House

Sandringham Avenue

Harlow Business Park

Harlow, Essex, CM19 5TG

United Kingdom

8.

MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

Vm 08327/4177

9.

DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

Date of first authorisation: 18^th April 1994.

10.

DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

August 2010