USDA grants full approval for novel canine parvovirus therapy

The USDA has granted full approval for a novel therapy to treat canine parvovirus (CPV), according to Elanco Animal Health. The Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody (CPMA)—now Trutect— from Elanco received a conditional license from the USDA in 2023, and the agency extended its use for passive immunity in puppies exposed to the virus, in June 2025 .¹

CPV is a common infectious disease in dogs around the world. Left untreated, it results in death in approximately 90% of cases. Survival rates are estimated to be 80% to 90% in cases with aggressive treatment.²

According to data compiled by Elanco, 93% of puppies with CPV that received CPMA treatment survived. Furthermore, patients infected with the virus spent an average of 1.87 fewer days in the hospital.¹

“Receiving full USDA approval of our lifesaving [parvovirus] treatment reinforces our promise to go beyond for veterinarians, pet owners, and, most importantly, the puppies across the country who need it most,” Bobby Modi, executive vice president, US pet health and global digital transformation for Elanco, said in a news release.¹ “Under the brand name Trutect, our mission remains the same, to save puppies from parvovirus.”

As a nonenveloped, single-stranded DNA virus, CPV can survive for more than a year in the environment, which serves as a means of transmission. Transmission occurs through a fecal-oral route such as exposure to CPV in feces or vomit as well as fomites.³ 

Puppies ages 6 weeks to 6 months are more likely to develop severe illness with CPV, especially those younger than 12 weeks. CPV disease can also develop in unvaccinated or improperly vaccinated adult dogs. In some regions, distribution of CPV disease has been seasonal, while socioeconomic disadvantage was found to play a role in at least one surveillance study.³

Tannetje Crocker, DVM, an emergency veterinarian at Veterinary Emergency Group in Dallas, Texas, and owner of Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Fort Worth, said she has seen firsthand the “devastating” effect of CPV throughout her career. “Since 2023, I have proudly used CPMA and have reunited countless puppies with their families. I’ve also used the product on exposed puppies, helping to keep them protected from this highly contagious virus. I believe every [veterinary] clinic should keep [CPMA] on hand because you never know when a parvo puppy will need this targeted treatment,” Crocker said in the release.¹

According to Elanco data on file, there is a 90% satisfaction rate from clinics that incorporated CPMA into their treatment protocols. Additionally, 92% of veterinarians reported a reduction in overall clinic stress while using CPMA in the treatment process, and 83% expressed they would recommend it to their peers.

“The real-world data collected over the first year of CPMA availability, shows that as a result of these efforts and more, survival rates for puppies battling the deadly virus improved. We also saw enhanced operational efficiency and high satisfaction within veterinary clinics–demonstrating that Trutect has already started rewriting the protocol for parvovirus treatment,” Jill Pattee, DVM, a veterinarian for Elanco Animal Health, said in the release.¹

In a 2024 interview with dvm360, Crocker also recommended vaccination against CPV infection for reducing disease exposure and transmission, as well as client education. “I see a ton of dogs come in that are unvaccinated. Puppies are not fully vaccinated…So the recommendation is simple, and it's something that I feel like people should know. But then the more I talk to pet owners, and I talk to them about what [CPV] is, they just don't know. So we want to make sure we get the word out about how important vaccination is and knowing the early signs of [CPV],” she said in the interview.⁴

Common clinical signs of CPV include fever, lethargy, inappetence, vomiting, severe diarrhea, dehydration and depression. In rare cases, sudden death or tachypnea caused by myocarditis may also occur.^2,3

Elanco launched a multi-year campaign in 2024 with a mission to help prevent and defeat CPV in puppies. As part of this campaign, the company introduced the first National Parvo Awareness Day to provide education about CPV. Additionally, Elanco has expanded its manufacturing facility in Elwood, Kansas, and is continuing to invest in the growth of the company’s monoclonal antibody platform.¹

For pet owners with dogs exposed to or infected with CPV, Elanco is increasing availability of CPMA and offers a $200 rebate with purchase. The company has also donated more than $3 million of CPMA product across 2300 clinics and shelters throughout the US.¹

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References

1. Elanco announces full USDA approval of CPMA (now Trutect) the first-and-only treatment for deadly canine parvovirus. News release. Elanco. December 15, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.elanco.com/us/newsroom/press-releases/trutect-USDA-approval
2. What every pet owner should know about parvo-virus. Jefferson Animal Hospital Regional Emergency & Trauma Center. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://jeffersonanimalhospitals.com/what-every-pet-owner-should-know-about-parvo-virus
3. Sykes JE. Chapter 14: Canine parvovirus infections and other viral enteritides. In: Sykes JE, ed. Canine and Feline Infectious Diseases. 2013;141-151. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4377-0795-3.00014-4
4. Crossley KC. Generating awareness about parvovirus vaccination. dvm360. June 25, 2024. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/generating-awareness-about-parvovirus-vaccination