NCBA: Elanco launches unique new antibiotic to treat bovine respiratory disease
Elanco launched Pradalex, a new BRD treatment that features two modes of action
26 May 2025
3 minute read
By: Dr. Ron Tessman, beef cattle technical consultant at Elanco, was recently interviewed by Sarah Mikesell at the National Cattleman's Beef Association's CattleCon conference at San Antonio, Texas, USA.
What's new at Elanco?
We have a brand new product Pradalex, the newest antimicrobial that has been approved for bovine respiratory disease. It's been over a decade since we've had a new product on the market. Elanco is bringing it out for the first week of the commercial launch. It is a different product with a different active ingredient than anything else on the market. It's in the same class as Baytril, so it is a fluoroquinolone, but it's a third-generation fluoroquinolone that features two modes of action.
What does that mean? The significant difference is that this antibiotic has two targets in those bacteria with the same efficiency, so it's more potent. We have a lot more killing power with this antimicrobial on these bacteria. Along with that, the way it's formulated makes it unique; It's the most syringe-able product on the market. We've compared it to everything. It gets extremely high concentration very quickly. After subcutaneous administration, within 45 minutes, we see the maximum concentrations in the plasma.
We've done studies in the lab to see how quickly it kills bacteria. Within five minutes, we have almost 100% kill. That's a laboratory study, so it's going to vary in the animal, but we know, based on past and ongoing studies, where we have a quick response. We have some comparative studies, but it's about this antimicrobial and where it fits. It's a treatment-only product.
What we're really bringing is another solution for that treatment in that animal that shows clinical disease. That's what this product is meant for. We have data that shows that it has less of a probability of choosing resistant organisms. We're really hoping that this is going to be a solution that, when used appropriately, is going to be around for a long time. We hope it will be a useful tool for our producers and veterinarians that are out in the field for bovine respiratory disease.
BRD has been around a long time, but it continues to be a problem?
It's the number one cause of disease. No matter what market you’re in or what segment of the cow industry you're looking at, especially in the feedlot, but also stockers. Even if we look at cow-calf, if we get an outbreak, it can be serious. This product is approved for calves two months of age and older all the way out to slaughter for those animals that are going to the feedlot with a four-day withdrawal. We must really manage that four-day withdrawal. Then anything goes for reproduction, two months of age to one year of age.
We really wanted to think more about antibiotic husbandry. We really want to monitor holistically how we treat and prevent BRD. We wanted a narrow claim for those animals. We're using it in those animals that really need it. We have other products for animals that are older cows and bulls. We really want to keep it for specific animals - we look for it to be a first pull treatment. That's where it's going to have its most bang for its benefit because it works so quickly. We show that now, we do get a reduction in lung lesions as well when we look at it.
Which helps cattle over the long haul, right?
The most important thing is if we think about a cow and their physiology and their lungs, they are susceptible to BRD. That's why we struggle with this so much. The more that we can do to maintain that lung volume and that good lung tissue, the better off we are.
It's great that you're being protective of this new molecule, right?
It's just for treatment. It's a targeted therapy and that's part of our mission to target that therapy. We know that metaphylaxis is a valuable tool for producers and we have good products to fit that niche. We don't want to replace that; we want to add to our toolbox.
