V-Tech, the largest veterinary compounding pharmacy in Southern Africa, continues to face challenges in ensuring South Africa’s vets have access to a treatment that is considered vital for dogs suffering from Cushing’s Disease.
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has refused to release a recent shipment of Trilostane, the only effective treatment for the disease, to V-Tech, which has been importing the substance for 10 years.
Cushing’s Disease is a hormonal disorder that can cause a variety of health problems in dogs and may be fatal if left untreated. The disease can be managed with medication, but the only currently available treatment in South Africa is a compounded medication produced by V-Tech.
V-Tech CEO Dr Johan Oosthuyse, a veterinarian himself, says that SAHPRA’s decision will result in “immense unnecessary suffering for dogs with this disease”.
He says that V-Tech is taking steps to prevent a similar situation to what is happening in the poultry industry, where the government’s delay in deciding on vaccination for avian influenza has led to a disastrous situation. Avian influenza, also known as “bird flu”, is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause severe illness and death in birds.
“As a responsible and ethical animal health company, we see it as our duty to ensure that this highly effective, safe, and affordable treatment remains freely available to veterinarians.”
V-Tech, which has been importing Trilostane for a decade, believes it belongs to a class of veterinary medicine that has never required registration. This view is supported by the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA), which represents over 1,800 registered veterinarians in the country.
Gert Steyn, the Managing Director of SAVA, says that the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of treating Cushing’s Disease with Trilostane are well-established. He says that stopping the importation of Trilostane would lead to the death and suffering of thousands of animals. He also says that SAVA believes Trilostane does not need to be registered.
Dr Oosthuyse believes that while SAHPRA considers the dispute, V-Tech should seek interim court relief to ensure that animals with the chronic, life-threatening condition of Cushing’s disease can continue receiving treatment with this compounded Trilostane veterinary prescription medicine.
