FDA Grants Emergency Clearance for Screwworm Drug

Cattle are herded in a stable in Hamilton, Texas, on June 5, 2026. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Federal regulators on June 11 announced they’ve granted emergency authorization for a screwworm drug for dogs and cats, the latest in a series of actions officials have taken since the flesh-eating pest entered the United States for the first time in years.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized, on an emergency basis, generic nitenpyram for treating New World screwworm infestations in dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens that weigh at least two pounds and are older than three weeks of age. The drug is made by Felix Pharmaceuticals.