Calgary’s Solvet has secured an emergency use authorisation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a liquid ivermectin preparation intended for horses, a development that positions the local company at the front line of efforts to curb the threat posed by screwworm in the United States.
What was authorised and why it matters
The FDA granted the emergency approval in July, allowing Solvet’s aqueous-based ivermectin solution for equines to be sold and used in the U.S. for the short-term prevention of screwworm. Company chief executive Lionel Gibbs described the product as more concentrated and easier to administer than typical ivermectin pastes.
"It's an aqueous-based solution, not a paste, so it's a bit unique; it's a bit more concentrated and it's a lot easier to administer," said Lionel Gibbs, CEO of Solvet.
Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic agent commonly used against a wide range of parasites, including the larvae of screwworm flies. Female screwworm flies lay eggs in open wounds on mammals, and the resulting larvae feed on host tissue—causing severe pain, secondary infections and, in some cases, death. The product’s emergency use authorisation is aimed at short-term prevention while authorities work to control outbreaks.
Local company, international role
Solvet was founded in 2009 by two former University of Calgary professors and has grown into one of Canada’s larger veterinary pharmaceutical firms. The FDA authorisation underscores the city’s contribution to veterinary science and pharmaceutical manufacturing, and it may further raise Solvet’s profile in North American markets.
- Product type: Aqueous liquid ivermectin for horses
- Authorisation: U.S. FDA emergency use (July)
- Company founded: 2009 in Calgary
Why screwworm remains a concern
Screwworm once inflicted heavy losses on ranchers across parts of North America and Mexico until eradication efforts carried out in the past successfully removed the pest from much of the continent. According to the reporting, the earlier eradication campaign used the sterile insect technique and led to the fly being eliminated from North America. The recent uptick in screwworm concern has prompted regulators to consider emergency measures, including temporary approval of pharmaceutical interventions.
For ranchers, veterinarians and animal-health officials, a readily administered liquid option could be a practical tool in outbreak response—particularly for field use where dosing speed and compliance matter. While the FDA authorisation is explicitly an emergency measure, it opens a route for Solvet’s product to be deployed where immediate protection is required.
Economic and sectoral implications for Calgary
The FDA decision is a reminder that Calgary-based life-science firms can move quickly into international markets when public- and animal-health needs arise. For the city’s business community, the authorisation demonstrates the export potential of local pharmaceutical manufacturing and the value of university-linked spinouts.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Company | Solvet (Calgary) |
| Founding year | 2009 |
| Product | Aqueous ivermectin solution for horses |
| Regulatory action | U.S. FDA emergency use authorisation (July) |
Longer term impacts—for Solvet’s revenues, local employment or Calgary’s standing in veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturing—will depend on whether the product moves from emergency use to permanent approvals and on demand from U.S. livestock sectors. For now, the approval provides an immediate tool against a parasite with a painful history for ranchers across the continent.
City readers with livestock or veterinary interests will want to watch how regulators and animal-health agencies use the product in outbreak response and whether similar approvals are sought or granted in Canada and other jurisdictions.
