Merial veterinarians continue to triage immiticide supply due to shortage

Duluth, Ga.

-- To manage a temporary shortage of a canine heartworm treatment called Immiticide (melarsomine dihydrochloride), Merial continues to consult with veterinarians on a case-by-case basis, the company reports.

"This is a temporary delay and we are managing inventory to make Immiticide available to customers that have an urgent need," the company reports in a statement.

Veterinarians with a patient in need of heartworm treatment should call Merial directly at (888) 637-4251, option 1. The company's veterinarians will consider overall health of the dog, disease classification, absence or presence of clinical signs and other criteria.

"We are working diligently to return to full supply as soon as possible," the company adds. The company could not estimate when supplies will return to normal levels.

The shortage was spurred by "unforeseen technical difficulties during a planned manufacturing site transfer," the company reports. Letters were mailed to veterinarians in late December alerting them of the drug shortage.