A randomized, blinded, controlled and multi-centered field study comparing the efficacy and safety of Bravecto™ (fluralaner) against Frontline™ (fipronil) in flea- and tick-infested dogs

New and effective treatments of companion animal ectoparasite infestations are important because these parasites can become tolerant to existing treatment options and have the potential to develop resistance [1]. Veterinarians and animal owners are also looking for more effective and longer lasting treatments to include in their ectoparasite control protocols. They have concerns about the irritation and injury caused directly by fleas and ticks and the risks these parasites introduce as infectious-disease vectors. Additionally, poor owner compliance is a concern with current monthly ectoparasite control retreatment recommendations [2].

Fluralaner is a member of the isoxazoline class, a novel class of antiparasitic drugs representing safe and effective new acaricidal and insecticidal products for management of ectoparasitic infestations on dogs and cats [3]. Fluralaner has been proven to have potent efficacy against ectoparasites and to be safe for oral administration to dogs [4]. In vitro testing determined that fluralaner is a highly potent arthropod-specific GABA-gated chloride channel inhibitor, with a less potent, but still significant, inhibitory activity on arthropod glutamate-gated chloride channels and its receptor binding was 5–236 fold better than fipronil on arthropod GABA-gated chloride channels [5]. This receptor potency difference could translate into improved efficacy for fluralaner over fipronil for ectoparasite control under field conditions.

This study presents results of a rigorous, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) compliant, blinded field study comparing Bravecto™ (fluralaner) with a positive control (fipronil) under typical veterinary practice conditions. This study evaluated whether Bravecto™ (fluralaner) is statistically at least as effective (non-inferiority analysis) as the positive control treatment.

This was a multicenter, randomized, field efficacy study conducted at veterinary practices in Germany, France, and Spain, which enrolled privately-owned dogs of any breed or gender. The study started in August 2011 and was finished in February 2012. The veterinarians who performed clinical assessments and parasite counts were blinded to the treatment allocation of the dogs. The study design used the individual dog as the experimental unit for statistical analysis of tick infestations and the household as the experimental unit for analysis of flea infestations.

For enrollment in the study, dogs had to have either a visible flea or tick infestation (or both) on initial examination, with observation of at least 4 individual ectoparasites. The dogs also needed to have an appropriate temperament to permit required manipulations for parasite counting; to be 10 weeks or older, at least 2 kg body weight, and sufficiently healthy to follow the study schedule. Dogs were ineligible if the household included a severely ill animal requiring intensive veterinary care, any dog who had received previous ectoparasiticide treatment within the previous 7 to 30 days depending on the expected duration of effect of the treatment, a pregnant or lactating female dog, more than 5 dogs, or other pet species that could harbor fleas and/or ticks (e.g. cats, rabbits, guinea pigs) sharing the same resting area; if insecticide or insect growth regulator had been applied in the household environment within the previous two months; or if the dog would need to spend substantial time at a dog sitter or animal shelter during the study period. Dog owners were briefed on the study protocol and required to sign an informed consent allowing enrollment of their dog(s) in the study.

Dogs were randomly assigned, using a computer-generated list, to receive either Bravecto™ (fluralaner, 25–56 mg/kg body weight once) or a positive control treatment Frontline™ (fipronil, ≥6.7 mg/kg for three sequential times) at a 2:1 fluralaner:fipronil enrollment ratio. All dogs from the same household were treated using the same product. A clinical examination including a descriptive evaluation of skin and hair examinations to document any skin lesions possibly related to FAD was completed. An initial parasite count was performed using the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) comb-counting method [6] followed by administration of the initial treatment in the veterinary hospital. All dogs that received the oral Bravecto™ (fluralaner) treatment were initially offered the opportunity to eat the tablet voluntarily. If the tablet was refused, the dogs were given the tablet directly into the mouth.

All dogs remained in the owner’s home and were fed their usual diet with access to water according to their normal routine. Grooming, bathing, and swimming were permitted during the study, but not within 3 days prior to a scheduled visit or within 2 days after treatment application. Participating veterinarians and owners were required to collect details on any suspected adverse events throughout the study.

Regular follow-up procedures in weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12 after initial treatment included re-examinations of dogs to document health status and any changes in skin and hair lesions for dogs that originally presented with FAD, followed by parasite counts. In weeks 4 and 8, dogs in the positive control group were retreated after these procedures. Ticks were removed gently with forceps; counted; and categorized as “live or “dead”; ticks were subsequently sent for microscopic identification of the species.

where ${\overline{\mathit{x}}}_{\mathit{\text{pre}}-\mathit{\text{treatment}}}$ is the geometric mean number of live ticks or fleas at baseline (day 0) and ${\overline{\mathit{x}}}_{\mathit{\text{post}}-\mathit{\text{treatment}}}$ is the geometric mean number of live ticks or fleas post-treatment (week 2, 4, 8, and 12).

For each visit, non-inferiority of the percentage of parasite-free households was investigated in the Bravecto™ (fluralaner) group compared with the Frontline™ (fipronil) group. The Farrington-Manning test [7] of non-inferiority for the risk difference was used with a level of significance of α=0.025 and a tolerated difference of δ=0.15.

All data for statistical analysis (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA, release 9.2) were entered into a computer using the double data entry technique with subsequent comparison of data sets and a plausibility check for missing values, entry errors, and implausible entries.

There were 35 (10.8%) Bravecto™ (fluralaner)-treated dogs and 18 (11.7%) Frontline™ (fipronil)-treated dogs with clinical signs of FAD at inclusion in the study. In the Bravecto™ (fluralaner) group, 85.7% (30 of 35) of these dogs were evaluated at each time point as showing no clinical signs of FAD until the end of the study, while in the Frontline™ (fipronil) group, only 55.6% (10 of 18) had no clinical signs of FAD.

Overall, 8 adverse events reported during the entire study period of 12 weeks were considered to be possibly related to the administered treatment, with 4 reported in each treatment group despite the 1:2 allocation ratio. There were 2 dogs (0.5%) with vomiting/diarrhea and 2 dogs (0.5%) with appetite loss among the 383 dogs in the Bravecto™ (fluralaner)-treated group; all of these dogs recovered from their clinical signs and remained in the study. In the 178 Frontline™ (fipronil)-treated dogs, 3 dogs (1.7%) developed alopecia and crusts in the dorsal lumbo-sacral area and 1 dog (0.6%) developed intense pruritus. All of these dogs remained in the study; 3 recovered and 1 had ongoing clinical signs at the conclusion of the study.

A single orally administered Bravecto™ (fluralaner) treatment at the recommended dose effectively controlled flea and tick infestations in client-owned dogs for 12 weeks under natural infestation challenge. Bravecto™ (fluralaner) is the first orally administered ectoparasiticide to demonstrate this extended period of efficacy against both fleas and ticks on dogs following a single dose. A single Bravecto™ (fluralaner) treatment was significantly non-inferior to 3 sequential Frontline™ (fipronil) treatments for controlling fleas and ticks on dogs, as shown by the lower 97.5% confidence limit > -0.15 at all time points (Table 6). Furthermore, Bravecto™ (fluralaner) treatment was demonstrated to be superior to Frontline™ (fipronil) treatment in the percentage of flea-free households in the study, as shown by the lower 97.5% confidence limit > 0 at all time points (Table 6). Therefore, these efficacy results are consistent with previously reported in vitro comparative insect neuronal membrane receptor binding results reported for fluralaner and fipronil [5].

Bravecto™ (fluralaner) posted higher results for flea-control efficacy at every time point (Table 4) and for tick-control efficacy at every time point except for weeks 8 and 12, where the result was close to 100% for both treatments (Table 5). The tick efficacy of Bravecto™ (fluralaner) remained close to 100% over the entire 12 week study period. This is a unique duration of effect for a single orally administered acaricide.

A concern of veterinarians in clinical practice is patient safety for new treatments. Considering the entire study period of 12 weeks, only 4 of the 383 (1.0%) Bravecto™ (fluralaner)-treated dogs in the study had an adverse event and these were exclusively transient gastrointestinal-related events including vomiting and appetite loss. The 178 Frontline™ (fipronil)-treated dogs also had 4 adverse events (2.2%) that were primarily dermal, as might be expected with a topical treatment.

Poor compliance rates with required monthly retreatment protocols for existing ectoparasite therapeutic options are a potential factor in observed reduced ectoparasite treatment efficacy [2]. Bravecto™ (fluralaner) is effective over a 12 week retreatment interval compared to a standard monthly treatment. There is no need to retreat with Bravecto™ (fluralaner), which therefore should offer increased compliance compared with recommended monthly treatments.

Bravecto™ (fluralaner)-treated dogs demonstrated a very strong recovery rate from clinical signs of FAD, with 85.7% of these dogs showing immediate resolution of all clinical signs compared with their skin lesions on entry into the study. Although fleas must feed to be exposed to systemic Bravecto™ (fluralaner) treatment, the degree of flea control efficacy achieved led to the elimination of clinical signs of FAD at a higher rate than observed with topical Frontline™ (fipronil) treatment.

A single oral dose of Bravecto™ (fluralaner) administered to dogs in a chewable tablet is highly effective for 12 weeks against naturally acquired flea and tick infestations on client-owned dogs under field conditions. A single oral dose of Bravecto™ (fluralaner) is significantly non-inferior (ticks) and superior (fleas) to three doses of topical Frontline™ (fipronil) administered over the same period. Bravecto™ (fluralaner) is safe and well tolerated and the duration of activity offers a more convenient treatment over monthly flea and tick control treatments with a potential compliance advantage.