Three new deworming products and a shift in distribution of the popular Zimecterin and Equimectrin dewormers are offering horse owners new options in deworming their horses. The popular dewormer Zimecterin, developed and manufactured by Merial Limited but largely marketed and distributed by Farnam, now will be distributed over the counter (OTC) by Merial. Farnam is now offering two of its own ivermectin deworming products and one ivermectin/pyrantel pamoate rotational dewormer.

Gina DePinto, spokesperson for Farnam explained the change. “In essence, we’ve been marketing Zimecterin for 18 years–it has always been manufactured by Merck, and then Merial (which was founded through the merger of the animal health businesses of Merck and Aventis in 1997). We’ve enjoyed a happy and successful relationship with Merial, but decided to take charge of our own destiny.”

Farnam will continue to sell Zimecterin until the supply runs out, and Merial has announced that they will continue to market the product indefinitely.

“In order to better reach and serve our customers, we have decided to market Zimecterin directly through the over-the-counter (OTC) channel to our distributor and retail customers,” said Steve Curvey, Merial’s Director of Equine Enterprise, North America, in a company release. Merial is well-known for its products available through veterinarians including the anti-ulcer medication Gastrogard, the parasite control product Eqvalan, and a line of vaccines. “This distribution strategy will also serve as a platform for new equine products currently in our development pipeline.” Merial will also market Equimectrin, another ivermectin-based dewormer