Merck Animal Health Announces Partnership with The Street Dog Coalition

Donation will provide vaccines and treatment for pets of the homeless

MADISON, N.J., Jan. 6, 2021 – Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the US and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced a partnership with The Street Dog Coalition to provide medications, vaccines and treatment for pets of those experiencing homelessness. Currently present in more than 50 cities across the United States, The Street Dog Coalition is a non-profit organization that offers free basic veterinary care to pets of homeless individuals by taking a One Health approach to street medicine and caring for the lives on “both ends of the leash.”

 “For those experiencing homelessness, having a pet by your side can provide valuable love and companionship, mental health benefits, security and opportunities for responsibility – but it can also present challenges,” said Christine Royal, DVM, associate vice president of the U.S. companion animal & equine business unit,  Merck Animal Health. “As a company that stands by our unconditional commitment to pets, pet owners and those who care for them, it’s an honor to team up with The Street Dog Coalition and offer resources that allow their volunteer veterinarians to deliver accessible, quality care to those who need it most.”

Through the partnership, Merck Animal Health will support The Street Dog Coalition’s volunteer team of veterinarians, veterinary students, practice managers and technicians, by donating a year-long supply of its portfolio of vaccines and medications, including Bravecto®, Sentinel® and Nobivac®, to protect thousands of unsheltered dogs and cats from various infectious diseases and problematic internal and external parasites caused by fleas, ticks, heartworms and intestinal worms.

“For all of us veterinarians, we understand how powerful the human-animal bond can be; and now, especially during the unprecedented times we’re living in, we’ve seen homeless owners give up everything to be with their pets, including overlooking their own meals and medical treatment, and living unsheltered to sleep with their dog or cat,” said Dr. Jon Geller, DVM, National Director and Founder of The Street Dog Coalition. “With approximately 20% of the homeless population owning pets, our partnership with Merck Animal Health allows us to offer a holistic solution by providing preventive and routine medical care for pets of those experiencing homelessness.”

Along with free veterinary care for dogs and cats living with homeless owners, The Street Dog Coalition works with local organizations to offer routine medical attention for humans experiencing homelessness. Through its collaboration with veterinarians, students and social workers, The Street Dog Coalition is committed to providing the best possible support for homeless individuals and their pets who love them unconditionally. To follow The Street Dog Coalition’s efforts on social media, visit them on Facebook and Instagram, @TheStreetDogCoalition.

About The Street Dog Coalition

The Street Dog Coalition is a national non-profit organization that provides free medical care and related services to pets of people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. Using a ‘One Health’ approach to street medicine, The Street Dog Coalition cares for the lives on both ends of the leash with the help of volunteer veterinarians, vet-techs, social workers, doctors, dentists, allies, and human-animal bond advocates. For more information, or to donate, visit www.thestreetdogcoalition.org.

About BRAVECTO® (fluralaner)

Since its introduction in 2014, BRAVECTO has provided longer-lasting flea and tick protection with more than 175 million doses distributed in 90 countries. BRAVECTO is available in a variety of extended-duration formulations, including products for both dogs and cats 6 months of age or older, as one treatment with BRAVECTO lasts up to 12 weeks, protects almost three times longer than monthly treatments and is proven to kill fleas on dogs and cats and to eliminate them from the home.[i] BRAVECTO products are only available through licensed veterinarians.

BRAVECTO 1-MONTH Chews are for dogs 8 weeks of age and older. Side effects may include itching, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, elevated ALT, lethargy, and weight loss. Fluralaner is a member of the isoxazoline class. This class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, ataxia, and seizures. Seizures have been reported in dogs receiving isoxazoline class drugs, even in dogs without a history of seizures. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. BRAVECTO 1-MONTH Chews are not effective against A. americanum in puppies less than 6 months of age.

BRAVECTO Chews for Dogs are for dogs 6 months of age or older, and is safe for pregnant, breeding and lactating dogs.  Side effects may include vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, excessive thirst and flatulence. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders.

The most commonly reported adverse reactions include vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, polydipsia, and flatulence. BRAVECTO Chews for Dogs have not been shown to be effective for 12-weeks’ duration in puppies less than 6 months of age. BRAVECTO Chews are not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. Fluralaner is a member of the isoxazoline class.  This class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, ataxia, and seizures. Seizures have been reported in dogs receiving isoxazoline class drugs, even in dogs without a history of seizures. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders.

**BRAVECTO Chews for Dogs kill fleas, prevents flea infestations, and kills ticks (black-legged tick, American dog tick, and brown dog tick) for 12 weeks. BRAVECTO Chews also kills lone star ticks for 8 weeks.

About SENTINEL®

 With convenient and effective once-a-month dosing, SENTINEL® branded products protect against fleas and common intestinal parasites. Available by prescription only, SENTINEL® SPECTRUM® Chews (milbemycin oxime, lufenuron, and praziquantel) is the only monthly oral preventative medicine that gives protection against six different kind of parasites including tapeworms, while offering a soft beef and bacon flavored chew that dogs love.[1] SENTINEL SPECTRUM Chews offer prevention of heartworms disease, while treating and controlling adult stages of tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms and whipworms. With lufenuron, SENTINEL SPECTRUM Chews prevent flea eggs from hatching, therefore controlling the development of flea populations. SENTINEL SPECTRUM Chews are indicated for the prevention of heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis; for the prevention and control of flea populations (Ctenocephalides felis); and for the treatment and control of adult roundworm (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina), adult hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum), adult whipworm (Trichuris vulpis), and adult tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum, Taenia pisiformis, Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus) infections in dogs and puppies two pounds of body weight or greater and six weeks of age and older.

SENTINEL® FLAVOR TABS® (milbemycin oxime, lufenuron) provide protection against five different kinds of parasites. Available by prescription only, SENTINEL Flavor Tabs is a monthly oral tab indicated for use in dogs and puppies, four weeks of age and older, and two pounds of body weight or greater. SENTINEL Flavor Tabs are also designated for the prevention of heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis; for the prevention and control of flea populations; the control of adult Ancylostoma caninum (hookworm); and the removal and control of adult Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina (roundworm) and Trichuris vulpis (whipworm) infections. Lufenuron controls flea populations by preventing the development of flea eggs and does not kill adult fleas. Concurrent use of an adulticide product may be necessary for adequate control of adult fleas.

Important Safety Information:

SENTINEL® FLAVOR TABS®: Dogs should be tested for heartworm prior to use. In a small percentage of treated dogs, digestive, neurologic, and skin side effects may occur. For complete product information refer to the product insert.

SENTINEL® SPECTRUM® CHEWS: Dogs should be tested for heartworm prior to use. Mild hypersensitivity reactions have been noted in some dogs carrying a high number of circulating microfilariae. Treatment with fewer than 6 monthly doses after the last exposure to mosquitoes may not provide complete heartworm prevention. For complete product information refer to the product insert.

About Merck Animal Health

For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedIn , Facebook, and Twitter at @MerckAH.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of the global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).                 

1 Data on file.