News Notes

FDA Approves Zygolide for PPID in Horses

By Modern Equine Vet News Staff

The FDA recently approved pergolide tablets (Zygolide, Dechra) to control the clinical signs associated with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in horses.

PPID, also known as equine Cushing’s disease, affects approximately 21% of horses ages 15 and older, and the prevalence increases as horses age—to 30% in horses older than 30 years old.

Zygolide offers an enhanced standard of care for clients and patients:

• The Zygolide tablet is features 360° scoring on all sides, making it simple to split as needed.
• The packaging is designed to protect tablet stability and ensure accurate dosing.
• The peppermint flavor provides an enhanced experience for horses and their caretakers when administering the medication.
• As a generic, Zygolide offers cost relief to horse owners and caretakers, particularly for horses that receive higher doses of treatments for PPID.

“The FDA approval of Zygolide brings to market a high-quality, cost-effective option to help make the management of PPID more accessible,” said Greg Schmid, DVM, the equine medical affairs lead, Dechra, in a company statement. He added that the flavor should also reduce the stress for the owner in having to give pills to the horse.

Zygolide is only indicated for horses, and its use has not been evaluated in breeding, pregnant or lactating horses. Treatment with Zygolide may cause loss of appetite. Most cases are mild. If severe, a temporary dose reduction may be necessary. Weight loss, lethargy and behavioral changes also may be observed.

Zygolide tablets should not be crushed due to the potential for increased human exposure. Pregnant or lactating women should wear gloves when administering this product. Zygolide is contraindicated in horses with hypersensitivity to pergolide mesylate or other ergot derivatives. Keep Zygolide in a secure location out of reach of dogs, cats, and other animals to prevent accidental ingestion or overdose. Dogs have eaten Zygolide tablets that were placed in food intended for horses or dropped during administration of the tablets to the horses.

Adverse reactions may occur if animals other than horses ingest Zygolide tablets. Refer to the prescribing information at www.dechra‐us.com.

Dechra said the tablets should be available in January, and can be purchased with a prescription from major online pharmacies nationwide. MeV

From company press materials.