IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. announced Nov. 19 that it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market and sell Navigator (32% nitazoxanide) antiprotozoal oral paste, a new treatment for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). EPM is a progressive, degenerative disease of the central nervous system that can cause serious or even fatal neurological problems in horses. Sarcocystic neurona, the causative protozoan parasite, is widespread among the equine population, with recent epidemiological surveys estimating that approximately 50% of all horses in the United States have been exposed.

Navigator paste is a powerful new treatment for this potentially devastating disease,” commented IDEXX President and CEO Jonathan Ayers. “Navigator paste represents a significant component of a growing range of products and services that IDEXX intends to offer for the detection and treatment of diseases in horses