The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a tablet form of firocoxib, which is currently available as a paste and injectable as Equioxx. Merial, which produces the product, said the tablets will be available on the market in early fall.

Equioxx, produced by Merial, is designed to control joint pain and inflammation associated with equine osteoarthritis. It is the only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug approved for use up to 14 days by both the American Quarter Horse Association and United States Equestrian Federation.

“Veterinarians and horse owners have been waiting for a tablet option of Equioxx from Merial,” says “The FDA approval process is very stringent, and we are proud to bring this new tablet formulation to market for horses,” said Hoyt Cheramie, DVM, MS, manager of Merial Large Animal Veterinary Services. “Having all three … formulations allows for consistent therapy with the same active ingredient.”

The Equioxx tablets will be available by prescription only