Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, August 8, 2026
Elanco Animal Health has received an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for CLiK™ Extra (dicyclanil topical suspension) wound spray to help prevent infestations caused by New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae in a range of livestock and captive or captured wildlife species. The authorization provides livestock producers, veterinarians, and animal health professionals with an additional prevention tool as the New World screwworm presents a renewed animal health threat in the United States. CLiK Extra is authorized for application on or around wounds in sheep, cattle, goats, swine, camelids, cervids, American bison, bighorn sheep, and Sonoran pronghorn. The product is intended to prevent new infestations before they occur and is not authorized to treat an infestation that is already active.
FDA Authorizes CLiK Extra for Screwworm Prevention
The FDA’s EUA permits the emergency use of CLiK Extra on or around wounds to prevent New World screwworm larvae infestations in the specified animal species. Wounds associated with birth, surgical procedures, and other injuries can provide opportunities for screwworm flies to lay eggs, making early wound care and prevention particularly important. Elanco states that CLiK Extra should be used as a preventive measure because it has not been shown to treat active New World screwworm infestations. If an animal is already infested or develops an infestation following administration, alternative treatment is required. The authorization comes after the reentry of New World screwworm into the United States was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in June 2026, creating concerns for livestock producers, ranchers, veterinarians, wildlife managers, and animal owners.
Early Intervention Remains Key to Animal Protection
New World screwworm is a parasitic threat in which larvae aggressively consume the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. Elanco technical experts emphasize that frequent animal observation, early identification of wounds, and prompt preventive intervention are important components of controlling the parasite and limiting its spread. Dr. M. Wayne Ayers, DVM, Senior Technical Consultant at Elanco, highlighted education and awareness as essential tools for producers, while emphasizing the importance of checking animals regularly and using appropriate wound-care measures. Rapid intervention can help reduce animal injury and the risk of death while also limiting the parasite’s ability to complete its lifecycle and contribute to further spread. The renewed presence of screwworm therefore creates an important veterinary and livestock health challenge, particularly in areas where producers must maintain close surveillance of susceptible animals.
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Elanco Expands Emergency Animal Health Options
CLiK Extra adds to Elanco’s portfolio of products addressing the New World screwworm threat. The company also offers Negasunt® Powder and Tanidil™, which received emergency authorizations earlier in 2026, while Catron™ IV is an EPA-registered product labeled for treatment against screwworm in several livestock species. Unlike CLiK Extra, which is authorized specifically for prevention around wounds, the other products have different authorized uses, species, and regulatory conditions. CLiK Extra will be available through standard product channels to animal health professionals, livestock producers, and those managing captive and captured wildlife. The EUA also establishes important restrictions, including an 86-day slaughter or harvest interval for several treated animal species and prohibitions on use in animals producing milk for human consumption. The product is authorized only for the duration of the emergency declaration unless the authorization is terminated or revoked earlier. The FDA authorization highlights the important role of animal health pharmaceuticals and veterinary disease prevention technologies in responding to emerging livestock threats. For Elanco, CLiK Extra provides another tool within an integrated approach focused on prevention, early detection, wound management, and rapid intervention. As New World screwworm continues to pose a risk to susceptible animals, collaboration among producers, veterinarians, animal health companies, and regulatory authorities will remain important for protecting livestock and wildlife populations.
Source: Elanco Animal Health press release
