Elanco Animal Health (NYSE: ELAN) cited newly published peer-reviewed data claiming its Credelio Quattro dog parasite treatment kills black-legged ticks faster than competing products Simparica Trio and NexGard Plus.

The study, published in Parasites & Vectors, evaluated the speed at which each product reduced black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) infestations in dogs. According to the data, Credelio Quattro achieved statistically significant tick reduction within 8 hours of infestation on both Day 0 and Day 28 of the dosing period. Simparica Trio, made by Zoetis, reached the same threshold at 12 hours on Day 0 and Day 28, while NexGard Plus, made by Boehringer Ingelheim, did so at 12 hours on Day 0 and 24 hours on Day 28.

A separate 2024 study published in the same journal compared lotilaner, the active ingredient in Credelio Quattro, against sarolaner in Simparica Trio and afoxolaner in NexGard for killing lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum). That study found lotilaner achieved significant tick reduction within 12 hours on Day 0, compared to 24 hours for both competing active ingredients.

"Speed of kill is a critical factor for veterinarians and pet owners when choosing parasite coverage because the longer a tick is attached, the more likely it is to transmit dangerous diseases, like Lyme disease, to pets," said Dr. Casey Locklear, a veterinarian and parasiticides expert at Elanco.

Credelio Quattro holds a U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved claim for prevention of Lyme disease in dogs as a result of killing black-legged ticks. The product is indicated for dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age and older weighing 3.3 pounds or greater.

Lotilaner belongs to the isoxazoline class of drugs, which has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, incoordination, and seizures, even in dogs without a prior history of seizures. The most frequently reported adverse reactions in clinical trials were vomiting and diarrhea.