Summary of Product Characteristics

1. NAME OF THE VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Bimectin Horse Oral Paste 1.87% w/w

2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Active Substances

Ivermectin 1.87% w/w

For full list of excipients see Section 6.1.

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Oral Paste

A yellow, gel-like paste of uniform consistency.

4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Target Species

Horses

4.2 Indications for use, specifying the target species

Bimectin is indicated for the treatment of nematode or arthropod infestations in horses due to:

Large strongyles

Strongylus vulgaris (adults and 4^thlarval [arterial] stages)

S. edentatus (adults and 4^thlarval [tissue] stages)

S. equinus(adults)

Triodontophorus spp.(adults)

Triodontophorus brevicauda

Triodontophorus serratus

Small Strongyles

Adults and immatures (fourth stage larvae) small strongyles or cyathostomes unless otherwise stated. Ivermectin is not effective against the encysted larval stages of the small strongyles

Coronocyclus spp.

Coronocyclus coronatus

Coronocyclus labiatus

Coronocyclus labratus

Cyathostomumspp.

Cyathostomum catinatum

Cyathostomum pateratum

Cylicocyclusspp.

Cylicocyclus ashworthi

Cylicocyclus elongatus

Cylicocyclus insigne

Cylicocyclus leptostomum

Cylicocyclus nassatus

Cylicostephanusspp.

Cylicostephanus calicatus

Cylicostephanus goldi

Cylicostephanus longibursatus

Cylicostephanus minutus

Cylicodontophorusspp.

Cylicodontophorus bicornatus

Parapoteriostomumspp.

Parapoteriostomum mettami

Petrovinemaspp.

Petrovinema poculatum

Poteriostomumspp.

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)

Gasterophilus spp.

4.3 Contraindications

None.

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 (if any).

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 tests(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 ivermectin (an avermectin) has been reported inParascaris equorumin horses in a number of countries, including the EU. Therefore, the use of this product should be based on local (regional, farm) epidemiological information about susceptibility of nematodes and recommendations on how to limit further selection for resistance to anthelmintics.

(i) Precautions for use in animals

Special warning for non-target species: The product has been formulated for use in horses only. Cats, Dogs, especially Collies, Old English Sheepdogs and related breed or crosses, and also turtles and tortoises 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.

Parasite resistance to any particular class of anthehelminthic may develop following frequent, repeated use of an anthehelminthic of that class.

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

Do not eat, drink or smoke while handling the product. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. If accidental skin contact occurs, wash the affected area immediately with soap and water. If accidental eye exposure occurs, flush the eyes immediately with water and, if necessary, get medical attention.

Wash hands after use.

4.6 Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)

Some horses carrying heavy infection of Onchocercamicrofilariae 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

Some horses carrying heavy infection of Onchocercamicrofilariae 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.

4.8 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

The effects of GABA agonists are increased by ivermectin.

Administer orally as a single dose rate to horses at the recommended dose level of 0.2mg ivermectin per kilogram of bodyweight. Each syringe delivers 120mg ivermectin, sufficient to treat 600kg 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.

If animals are to be treated collectively rather than individually, they should be grouped according to their bodyweight and dosed accordingly, in order to avoid under- or over-dosing.

This is a single dose product. Discard after use.

Dosing Instructions:

Each weight marking on the syringe plunger will deliver sufficient paste to treat 100kg bodyweight. Unlock the knurled ring by making ¼ turn and slide the knurled ring up the plunger shaft so that the side nearest the barrelis at the prescribed weight marking. Turn the knurled ring ¼ turn to lock in place. Make sure the horse’s mouth contains no feed. Remove the plastic cap from the tip of the nozzle. 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. Immediately raise the horse’s head for a few seconds after dosing.

The treatment schedule should be based on the local epidemiological situation.

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 1.8mg/kg (9 times the recommended dose level). Other signs seen at higher doses includes 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

Meat and offal 34 days

Do not usein mares producing milk for human consumption.

5. PHARMACEUTICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Endectocide

ATC vet code: QP54AA01

Ivermectin is a member of the macrocyclic lactone class of endectocides. 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 and 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-gated chloride channels, the macrocyclic lactones have a low affinity for other mammalian ligand-gated chloride and they do not readily cross the blood-brain barrier.

5.2 Pharmacokinetics Properties

Following administration of Bimectin, ivermectin is rapidly absorbed to reach peak plasma concentration in several hours. This peak falls off gradually over several days. Ivermectin is eliminated primarily via the faeces. The highest residue levels are found in fat.

At a dose rate of 0.2mg ivermectin per kilogram of bodyweight, plasma levels of ivermectin reach a mean C_max concentration of 40.44ng/ml and a mean T_max at 8.35 hours. This peak falls off gradually to an average level of 3 ng/ml at 10 days.

6. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

Maize Oil

Polysorbate 80

Apple Flavour

Silica Colloidal Anhydrous

6.2 Incompatibilities

None known.

6.3 Shelf-life

Shelf-life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 2 years.

6.4 Special Precautions for Storage

To be used immediately after first opening of the oral syringe.

Protect from light.

6.5 Nature and composition of immediate packaging

White, disposable, high-density polyethylene syringe barrel, plunger and multidose ring with low density polyethylene seal, with low-density push-fit polyethylene cap containing 6.42 g of product.

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

EXREMELY DANGEROUS TO FISH AND AQUATIC LIFE. Do not contaminate surface waters or ditches with product or used containers.

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

7.0 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Cross Vetpharm Group Ltd.

Broomhill Road,

Tallaght,

Dublin 24, Ireland

8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER

Vm 12597/4042

9. DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION OR DATE OF RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

Date of first authorisation: 25 September 2003

10. DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

October 2008