Two-Pronged Approach Addressing the Pergolide Crises

Hence, Kellon and Gordon are taking a two-pronged approach to address the Pergolide crisis. One is to get the FDA to change its laws and the other is to get the drug manufacturers to restart production of the drug. Gordon said there is no doubt that if drug companies produce Pergolide, they’ll make money on it because there is a large market. Of the approximately 10 million horses in the U.S., about 10 percent are 20 years or older, the high-risk Cushing’s group. Even if only 1 percent of this older group need Pergolide, Kellon figures that amounts to a need for 3,650,000 one mg doses of the drug each year.

“If drug companies make it again, they will make money,” Gordon said. “But of course, they’ll jack up the price. So, that will be an impact for horse owners but there is no way around it. People have no other option right now. Research is being performed on other human drugs that might work but there is yet no evidence showing any other drug to be as effective. And most likely, any new drug that comes along will be even more expensive than Pergolide.”

Word of this drug shortage is spreading throughout the horse community and Gordon said that the equestrian community – horse owners and veterinarians alike – need to speak up.