New veterinary medicines in Great Britain in 2025
Every month in Veterinary Prescriber’s monthly Medicines News, we report on any new veterinary medicines authorised (licenced) for marketing in the UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) in the past month. This article is our annual round up and analysis for the whole of 2025. We have only presented figures for veterinary medicines approve for marketing in Great Britain (not Northern Ireland).
In 2025 the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) approved a total of 57 veterinary medicinal products (by our count) for marketing in Great Britain. (VMD PID)
Analysis by Adam Williams and Andrea Tarr for Veterinary Prescriber, January 2025.
By animal species category
In total, 34 products (60%) are for use in companion animals (dogs and cats, with one also for use in guinea pigs), 17 (30%) are for use in food-producing animals and two (3%) are for use solely in horses. A further two (3%) are for both companion and food-producing animals, one (2%) is for both companion animals and horses, and one (2%) is approved for use in all three categories.
Pie chart showing breakdown of 2025 veterinary medicines authorisations in GB by animal species category. Source VMD PID
By therapeutic use
As in 2024, parasiticides are the most common type of medicine among new approvals in 2025, with 16 (28%), followed by 12 vaccines (21%) and 10 NSAIDs (18%). The rest of the new approvals are a mixture of antimicrobials, antiemetics, cardiovascular, endocrine, dermatology and sedative drugs.
Pie chart showing breakdown of 2025 veterinary medicines authorisations in GB by therapeutic category. Source VMD PID.
New or generic?
Most of the new authorisations were for generic medicines (products authorised on the basis of data from previously authorised medicines). Of the 57 medicines authorised in 2025, 38 (67%) were generics, and 19 (33%) were new products.
Of the 19 new products in 2025, three were completely new products (containing new active ingredients), two were new formulations of existing products, two were new drug combinations, one drug was introduced with new strengths, 11 were new vaccines. The new products are detailed below.
Pie chart showing breakdown of 2025 veterinary medicines authorisations in GB according to whether new or generic. Source. VMD PID.
Completely new products
• Bexatil (bexagliflozin) tablets for cats. POM-V. A sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor for the reduction of hyperglycaemia and to improve hyperglycaemia-associated clinical signs in cats with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
• Varenzin (molidustat sodium) oral suspension for cats. POM-V. A red blood cell production stimulating drug for the treatment of non-regenerative anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats.
• Zenrelia (ilunocitinib) tablets for dogs. POM-V. A non-selective Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor for the treatment of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis, and the treatment of clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis.
New formulations
• Benamix (benazepril) premix for medicated feeding stuff for cat. POM-V. For the reduction of proteinuria associated with chronic kidney disease. Benazepril was previously available as a veterinary medicine only in tablet form. This premix is incorporated in a kibble feed and marketed as Vikaly Medicated Diet for cats, the first medicated feed product for companion animals.
• Vetmedin (pimobendan) oral solution for dogs. POM-V. For the treatment of congestive heart failure. Previously available as tablets or an injection.
New strengths
• Daxocox (enflicoxib) tablets for dogs. POM-V. Indicated for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis (or degenerative joint disease). Now available in 140mg and 200mg strength tablets.
New combinations
• BRAVECTO TriUNO (fluralaner, moxidectin, pyrantel) chewable tablets for dogs. POM-V. Indicated for dogs with, or at risk from, mixed parasitic infestations by ticks or fleas, gastrointestinal nematodes, lungworm and/or heartworm.
• DuOtic (betamethasone, terbinafine) 10 mg / 1 mg ear gel for dogs. POM-V. Indicated for the treatment of otitis externa associated with Malassezia pachydermatis. This is the first antimicrobial product for otitis externa to combine a steroid and antifungal without an antibiotic.
New vaccines
• Avishield IB QX (avian infectious bronchitis) lyophilisate for oculonasal suspension/use in drinking water for chickens. POM-V.
• BioEquin F (equine influenza virus) suspension for injection for horses. POM-V.
• BioEquin FT (equine influenza virus, tetanus) suspension for injection for horses. POM-V.
• Bluevac-3 (bluetongue virus BTV-3) suspension for injection for sheep and cattle. POM-V. (exceptional authorisation)
• Bultavo 3 (bluetongue virus BTV-3) suspension for injection for sheep and cattle. POM-V. (exceptional authorisation)
• Innovax-ND-H5 (turkey herpesvirus) concentrate and solvent for suspension for injection for chickens. POM-V. (exceptional authorisation)
• Lenzelta (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus) suspension for injection for cattle. POM-V.
• Poulvac Procerta HVT-IBD (Turkey herpes virus, strain HVT-IBD (cell-associated), expressing VP2 protein gene of infectious bursal disease virus) concentrate and solvent for suspension for injection for chickens. POM-V.
Syvazul BTV 3 (bluetongue virus BTV-3) suspension for injection for sheep and cattle. POM-V (exceptional authorisation)
Exceptional Marketing Authorisations
Five of the new vaccine marketing authorisations (three against bluetongue virus and two against turkey herpesvirus) are exceptional. An exceptional makreting authorisation may be granted when there is an urgent need for a product in an animal health emergency and there is no authorised product. In such cases, a marketing authorisation may be granted on the basis of provisional or limited data and be subject to specific reporting requirements, the need for periodic reassessment by the VMD and the requirement to generate the ‘missing’ data if the authorisation is to be maintained.
Further information
New veterinary medicines in 2024 (free)
If you’re interested in learning more about veterinary medicines, there are many CPD modules in Veterinary Prescriber’s Virtual Veterinary Medicines Academy (subscription required). For instance:
Flavoured, chewable and platable tablets for cats and dogs