A shipment of Adequan IM was released to the market last week and was received by veterinarians beginning Friday, Sept. 13, Luitpold Animal Health announced.

Adequan IM and IA are the only drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of non-infectious degenerative and/or traumatic joint dysfunction and associated lameness in horses.

The company announced in June that it wouldn’t release Adequan products until the first quarter of 2014 after saying in May that it would release the products in July or August of 2013.

The Luitpold Pharmaceuticals factory in Shirley, N.Y. underwent a “significant renovation to meet enhanced quality standards and addressed FDA observations,” the company said in a statement.

“Luitpold made significant investments in upgrading its manufacturing facilities earlier this year,” the company said. “The time spent making these upgrades impacted our ability to keep up with demand. We are working diligently to release additional product to the market and will provide updates as they become available. Quality and integrity remain our highest priorities.

The company acknowledged that the product supply remains limited and the initial shipments will not fully satisfy market demand. Adequan users should continue to work with their veterinarians to obtain the drug and discuss the most appropriate treatment regimen for your animals, the company said.

Luitpold has established a dedicated webpage where concerned parties can register to receive future communications and updates on this matter. Clients can also contact Luitpold Customer Service at 800-458-0163.