Tullavis 25 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Pigs

Tulathromycin

Last verified

Veterinary medicinal product: solution for injection. Distribution category: POM-V (Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3). Active substance: Tulathromycin.1

In short: questions and answers

Does Tullavis 25 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Pigs need a prescription?
Prescription only. As stated in the registration decision.1
Which animals is Tullavis 25 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Pigs for?
Pigs.1
What is the active substance in Tullavis 25 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Pigs?
Tulathromycin. ATCvet code: QJ01FA94.13
What is the withdrawal period of Tullavis 25 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Pigs according to the leaflet?
Pigs, meat: 13 days.3
Dispensing
Prescription only1

POM-V: Prescription Only Medicine - Veterinarian. Supplied only on a prescription written by a veterinary surgeon who has assessed the animal.12

Supplied only on a veterinarian's prescription. As stated in the registration decision.

Animal species
Pigs1
Active substance
Tulathromycin
ATCvet code
QJ01FA943
Manufacturer
Marketing authorisation holder: Industrial Veterinaria SA

Withdrawal period

Animal speciesProductdays
Pigsmeat133
Summary of product characteristics

Composition

Each ml contains:

Active substances:

Tulathromycin 25 mg

Excipients:

Qualitative composition of excipients and other constituentsQuantitative composition if that information is essential for proper administration of the veterinary medicinal product
Monothioglycerol5 mg
Propylene glycol
Citric acid
Hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment)
Sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment)
Water for injections

Clear colourless to yellowish solution.

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Pharmacological properties

4.1 ATCvet code: QJ01FA94

4.2 Pharmacodynamics

Tulathromycin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antimicrobial agent, which originates from a fermentation product. It differs from many other macrolides in that it has a long duration of action that is, in part, due to its three amine groups; therefore it has been given the chemical subclass designation of triamilide.

Macrolides are bacteriostatic acting antibiotics and inhibit essential protein biosynthesis by virtue of their selective binding to bacterial ribosomal RNA. They act by stimulating the dissociation of peptidyl-tRNA from the ribosome during the translocation process.

Tulathromycin possesses in vitro activity against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis and Bordetella bronchiseptica, the bacterial pathogens most commonly associated with swine respiratory disease. Increased minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values have been found in some isolates of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute CLSI has set the clinical breakpoints for tulathromycin against P. multocida and B. bronchiseptica of swine respiratory origin, as ≤16 μg/ml susceptible and ≥64 μg/ml resistant. For A. pleuropneumoniae of swine respiratory origin the susceptible breakpoint is set at ≤64 µg/ml. CLSI has also published clinical breakpoints for tulathromycin based on a disk diffusion method (CLSI document VET08, 4th ed, 2018). No clinical breakpoints have been set for H. parasuis. Neither EUCAST nor CLSI have developed standard methods for testing antibacterial agents against veterinary Mycoplasma species and thus no interpretative criteria have been set.

Resistance to macrolides can develop by mutations in genes encoding ribosomal RNA (rRNA) or some ribosomal proteins; by enzymatic modification (methylation) of the 23S rRNA target site, generally giving rise to cross-resistance with lincosamides and group B streptogramins (MLSB resistance); by enzymatic inactivation; or by macrolide efflux. MLSB resistance may be constitutive or inducible. Resistance may be chromosomal or plasmid-encoded and may be transferable if associated with transposons plasmids, integrative and conjugative elements. Additionally, the genomic plasticity of Mycoplasma is enhanced by the horizontal transfer of large chromosomal fragments.

In addition to its antimicrobial properties, tulathromycin demonstrates immune-modulating and anti- inflammatory actions in experimental studies. In porcine polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs; neutrophils), tulathromycin promotes apoptosis (programmed cell death) and the clearance of apoptotic cells by macrophages. It lowers the production of the pro-inflammatory mediators leukotriene B4 and CXCL-8 and induces the production of anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid lipoxin A4.

4.3 Pharmacokinetics

In pigs, the pharmacokinetic profile of tulathromycin when administered as a single intramuscular dose of 2.5 mg/kg bodyweight, was characterised by rapid and extensive absorption followed by high distribution and slow elimination. The maximum concentration (Cmax) in plasma was approximately 0.6 µg/ml; this was achieved approximately 30 minutes post-dosing (Tmax). Tulathromycin concentrations in lung homogenate were considerably higher than those in plasma. There is strong evidence of substantial accumulation of tulathromycin in neutrophils and alveolar macrophages. However, the in vivo concentration of tulathromycin at the infection site of the lung is not known. Peak concentrations were followed by a slow decline in systemic exposure with an apparent elimination half-life (t1/2) of approximately 91 hours in plasma. Plasma protein binding was low, approximately 40%. The volume of distribution at steady-state (Vss) determined after intravenous administration was 13.2 L/kg. The bioavailability of tulathromycin after intramuscular administration in pigs was approximately 88%.

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Target species

Pigs.

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Indications

Treatment and metaphylaxis of swine respiratory disease (SRD) associated with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis and Bordetella bronchiseptica susceptible to tulathromycin. The presence of the disease in the group must be established before the product is used.

The veterinary medicinal product should only be used if pigs are expected to develop the disease within 2–3 days.

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Dosage

Intramuscular use.

A single intramuscular injection of 2.5 mg tulathromycin/kg bodyweight (equivalent to 1 ml/10 kg bodyweight) in the neck.

For treatment of pigs over 40 kg bodyweight, divide the dose so that no more than 4 ml are injected at one site.

For any respiratory disease, it is recommended to treat animals in the early stages of the disease and to evaluate the response to treatment within 48 hours after injection. If clinical signs of respiratory disease persist or increase, or if relapse occurs, treatment should be changed, using another antibiotic, and continued until clinical signs have resolved.

To ensure correct dosage bodyweight should be determined as accurately as possible.

The cap may be safely punctured up to 100 times. For multiple vial entry, an aspirating needle or multi-dose syringe is recommended to avoid excessive broaching of the stopper.

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Contraindications

Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance, macrolide antibiotics or to any of the excipients.

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Adverse reactions

Pigs:

Very common (>1 animal / 10 animals treated): Injection site reaction1,2, Injection site fibrosis1, Injection site haemorrhage1, Injection site oedema1

1 Can persist for approximately 30 days after injection.

2 Reversible changes of congestion.

Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the national competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package leaflet for respective contact details.

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Warnings

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:

Use of the veterinary medicinal product should be based on susceptibility testing of the bacteria isolated from the animal. If this is not possible, therapy should be based on local (regional, farm level) epidemiological information about susceptibility of the target bacteria. Official, national and regional antimicrobial policies should be taken into account when the veterinary medicinal product is used.

Use of the veterinary medicinal product deviating from the instructions given in the SPC may increase the prevalence of bacteria resistant to tulathromycin and may decrease the effectiveness of treatment with other macrolides, lincosamides and group B streptogramins, due to the potential for cross resistance.

If a hypersensitivity reaction occurs appropriate treatment should be administered without delay.

Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals:

Tulathromycin is irritating to eyes. In case of accidental eye exposure, flush the eyes immediately with clean water.

Tulathromycin may cause sensitisation by skin contact. In case of accidental spillage onto skin, wash the skin immediately with soap and water.

Wash hands after use.

In case of accidental self-injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.

Special precautions for the protection of the environment:

Not applicable.

3.11 Special restrictions for use and special conditions for use, including restrictions on the use of antimicrobial and antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products in order to limit the risk of development of resistance

Not applicable.

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Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

Pregnancy and lactation:

Laboratory studies in rats and rabbits have not produced any evidence of teratogenic, foetotoxic or maternotoxic effects. The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established during pregnancy and lactation. Use only according to the benefit/risk assessment by the responsible veterinarian.

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Interactions

None known.

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Overdose

In young pigs weighing approximately 10 kg given three or five times the therapeutic dose transient signs attributed to injection site discomfort were observed and included excessive vocalisation and restlessness. Lameness was also observed when the hind leg was used as the injection site.

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Special warnings

Cross resistance occurs with other macrolides. Do not administer simultaneously with antimicrobials with a similar mode of action such as other macrolides or lincosamides.

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Withdrawal period

Meat and offal: 13 days.

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Incompatibilities

In the absence of compatibility studies, this veterinary medicinal product must not be mixed with other veterinary medicinal products.

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Immediate packaging

Clear glass (Type II Ph. Eur.) vials closed with a bromobutyl rubber stopper and sealed with an aluminium cap.

Pack sizes:

Cardboard box containing 1 vial of 50 ml.

Cardboard box containing 1 vial of 100 ml.

Cardboard box containing 1 vial of 250 ml.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

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Storage

Do not store above 30°C.

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Shelf life

Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 3 years. Shelf life after first opening the immediate packaging: 28 days.

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Disposal of unused product

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater.

Use take-back schemes for the disposal of any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived thereof in accordance with local requirements and with any national collection systems applicable to the veterinary medicinal product concerned.

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Additional information

Vm 36547/5004

Vm 36547/3004

8 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

01 October 2020

9 DATE OF THE LAST REVISION OF THE SUMMARY OF THE PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

November 2025

10 CLASSIFICATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS

Veterinary medicinal product subject to prescription.

Find more product information by searching for the ‘Product Information Database’ on www.gov.uk.

Approved: 19 November 2025

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Registration holder

Industrial Veterinaria SA

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Regulations

Sources

  1. VMD Product Information Database: Tullavis 25 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Pigs, 36547/5004 UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (OGL v3.0), checked 2026-10-04 archived copy from 2026-10-04
  2. The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3 (categories of veterinary medicinal products) UK Government, legislation.gov.uk, checked 2026-10-04 archived copy from 2026-10-04
  3. Summary of Product Characteristics: Tullavis 25 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Pigs UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate, SPC of the marketing authorisation holder, checked 2026-10-04 archived copy from 2026-10-04

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