Grandbrothers
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday sent warning letters to nine companies including Chewy (NYSE:CHWY) for making and selling unapproved antimicrobial animal drugs over worries that it could lead to greater drug resistance.
The drugs referenced in the warning letters were being sold for minor species such as aquarium fish and pet birds. They contain antibiotics that are widely used in drugs for humans such as amoxicillin and penicillin.
“The agency is concerned because these products contain antimicrobials that are important in human medicine and using them without medical oversight contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance,” the FDA said in a statement.
Antimicrobial resistance is the ability of microbes such as bacteria to repel the effect of antibiotics used to kill them. An increase in such resistance can lead to the development of superbugs.
Aside from Chewy (CHWY), the FDA also sent warnings letters to American Aquarium Products, Aquanest Biotic, Aquarium Pharmacy LLC, California Veterinary Supply, Kraft Drug, Midland Veterinary Services LLC, Silver Lease LLC and Valley Veterinary Clinic LTD.
Plantation, Fla.-based Chewy (CHWY) is an online retailer of pet food, products and supplies. It held its first investor day event on Thursday where it set long-term financial targets.
“These unapproved animal drugs pose a two-fold risk to public health,” Tracey Forfa, director of the FDA’s center for veterinary medicine, said in Thursday’s statement.
“First, these products haven’t been through the FDA drug review process, and we don’t know whether they’re safe or effective, or even contain what the label states. Second, inappropriate use of medically important antimicrobials contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance, which affects both human and animal health,” Forfa added.
