Vectra Felis
Authorised
This medicine is authorised for use in the European Union
pyriproxyfen / dinotefuran
MedicineVeterinaryAuthorised
- Application under evaluation
- CVMP opinion
- European Commission decision
Overview
Vectra Felis is a veterinary medicine used to treat and prevent flea infestations in cats. It also prevents fleas from hatching and developing in the cat’s environment.
Vectra Felis is available as a spot-on solution in an applicator and can be obtained without a prescription. The content of one full Vectra Felis applicator is applied directly to the cat’s skin, after parting its fur, at the base of the cat’s head. It is recommended to treat cats in the evening. After a single treatment, Vectra Felis prevents fleas for one month and blocks the flea life cycle so preventing infestation in the cat’s environment for three months. The need to re-treat cats and the time interval between treatments requires veterinary assessment.
Vectra Felis acts as an ectoparasiticide. This means that it kills parasites that occur on the skin or in the fur of animals, such as fleas that feed on the animal’s skin.
Dinotefuran is an insecticide which kills insects by acting on receptors (targets) in their nervous system called nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Pyriproxyfen is an insect growth regulator which stops the flea life cycle by causing production of infertile eggs as well as by blocking the development of immature flea stages into adults.
The effectiveness of Vectra Felis against fleas was investigated in a large number of laboratory studies and in one field study.
The field study involved 129 cats with flea infestations that were treated once a month for three consecutive months either with Vectra Felis or with another spot-on product containing two different substances, fipronil and (S)-methoprene, that control fleas. Vectra Felis was as effective as the comparator product and reduced flea counts by 91% over the 84 day study period.
The most common side effects with Vectra Felis (which may affect up to 1 in 1000 cats) are a slight scaling of the skin, temporary redness and itching or temporary hair loss at the application site. These usually disappear without any treatment.
Vectra Felis must not be used in cats or kittens weighing less than 0.6 kg.
For a full list of all side-effects reported with Vectra Felis, see the package leaflet.
Hands should be thoroughly washed immediately after use.
Contact with the skin, eyes or mouth should be avoided.
In case of accidental spillage onto skin, the area should be washed off immediately with soap and water.
If accidental exposure to the eyes occurs, the eyes should be rinsed with water with the eyelids open and for a sufficient length of time.
If skin or eye irritation persists, or if the veterinary medicine is accidentally swallowed, immediate medical advice should be sought and the package leaflet or label shown to the doctor.
People with known hypersensitivity (allergy) to any of the ingredients should avoid contact with the product.
People must not handle treated cats for at least eight hours after application of the veterinary medicine. Treated cats should not be permitted to sleep with their owners, especially children, on the day of treatment.
Used applicators should be disposed of immediately and not left within the sight or reach of children.
The European Medicines Agency decided that Vectra Felis’ benefits are greater than its risks and it can be authorised for use in the EU.
Vectra Felis received a marketing authorisation valid throughout the EU on 6 June 2014.
Product information
Latest procedure affecting product information:
IAIN-0019
25/01/2022
Product details
- Name of medicine
- Vectra Felis
- Active substance
- pyriproxyfen
- dinotefuran
- International non-proprietary name (INN) or common name
- pyriproxyfen
- dinotefuran
- Species
- Cats
- Anatomical therapeutic chemical veterinary (ATCvet) code
- QP53AX73
Pharmacotherapeutic group
- Antiparasitic products, insecticides and repellents
- Other ectoparasiticides for topical use
- pyriproxyfen, combinations
Therapeutic indication
Treatment and prevention of flea infestations (Ctenocephalides felis) on cats.
One application prevents flea infestation for one month. It also prevents the multiplication of fleas by inhibiting flea emergence in the environment of the cat for 3 months.
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