Stories related to me about the discovery of the avermectin class of drugs have always been interesting. The anecdotal information including an out-of-bounds golf ball is not in this article celebrating the accomplishments of William Campbell, Ph.D., and Satoshi Omura, Ph.D. Nevertheless it is wonderful to see scientists aligned with our industry achieve the honor of the Nobel Prize.
The citation excerpt does not reference animal health. To most of us, the avermectin class of drugs has been a source of disease prevention and associated income. Dr. Sandi Sawchuk spoke to their benefits in a news release.
Source: JAVMA News: December 1, 2015, page 1212.
The citation from the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute, which annually confers the Nobel prizes, states that the “importance of ivermectin for improving the health and well-being of millions of individuals with river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, primarily in the poorest regions of the world, is immeasurable.
As an agent of importance to veterinary medicine, ivermectin has been used widely in small animal practice since the 1980s, according to Dr. Sandi Sawchuk, a clinical instructor at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin – Madison.
“Since ivermectin hit the small animal pharmaceutical market other avermectin drugs have been discovered—selemectin, moxidectin and milbemycin. All are used not only for heartworm prevention but also intestinal parasites and ear mites. These drugs have made a huge impact on veterinary practice and pet health. I can’t imagine practicing without them,” she said in a UW press release.