Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) announced September 26 that Solensia (frunevetmab injection) is now available to veterinary clinics across the U.S. As a leading company in pet pain management, Zoetis is dedicated to understanding the science of pet pain, and Solensia is an example of how the company is using that knowledge to provide innovative treatments to veterinarians and the pets they care for.
Administered as a monthly injection by a veterinarian, Solensia is the first and only FDA-approved monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment for the control of pain associated with feline osteoarthritis (OA). Zoetis has researched pain progression in cats and now knows that a protein known as Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) is a key driver of OA pain. By targeting NGF, Solensia controls cats’ OA pain, helping them to regain their quality of life1 by increasing their mobility and improving their overall comfort.
“Solensia represents an important treatment option for veterinarians and pet owners and will transform the way feline OA pain is controlled,” said Laura Olsen, Senior Vice President, U.S. Petcare, at Zoetis. “For the first time ever in the U.S., we have the potential to reduce the impact of OA pain through a single, monthly injection administered in the veterinary clinic, limiting OA pain from disrupting the unique bond cats share with their humans. Zoetis looks forward to working with veterinarians to deliver this novel monoclonal antibody treatment.”
About Feline OA and the Impact of OA Pain
Feline OA is a highly prevalent condition that occurs when the protective tissue in the joints (cartilage) is worn down, causing bones to rub together.This makes moving harder and causes severe, chronic pain. Nearly 40% of cats show signs of OA pain2 In clinical studies, OA was detected through x-rays in 60% of cats older than six years of age3, and 90% of cats older than 12 years of age4. Feline OA pain is undertreated due to the lack of safe, FDA approved, and efficacious treatments approved for long-term treatment, and to the administration challenges for pet owners with oral medicines2.
Some pet owners may believe the pain their cat experiences is manageable and/or will resolve on its own. When left untreated, OA pain can cause physical suffering in cats, as well as affect their emotional well-being and lead to a lower quality of life because it negatively impacts cats’ happiness5.
“Cats are very skilled at hiding health issues and often times, pet owners do not recognize the signs and symptoms of pain in their cats,” said Michelle Meyer, DVM, Serenity Animal Hospital. “A recent survey found that more than half (55%) of cat owners were motivated to make an appointment with their veterinarian after learning about OA pain2. This is why we’re thrilled to have Solensia as a new, therapeutic option that helps to control the OA pain in our cats.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Solensia on January 13, 2022 to control the pain of OA in cats.
To learn more about Solensia, please visit www.SolensiaVetTeam.com. Pet owners should speak to their veterinarian about OA pain in their cat and see if Solensia is an appropriate option for their cat.
About Solensia™ (frunevetmab injection)
Solensia is a monoclonal antibody therapy administered in the veterinary clinic that targets Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) to control feline OA pain. Solensia functions like naturally produced antibodies and is eliminated via normal protein degradation pathways in the same way with minimal involvement of the liver or kidneys6.
Solensia is also approved in the European Union and has been available to veterinarians there since May 2021.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT SOLENSIA™
For use in cats only. Women who are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding should take extreme care to avoid self-injection. Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, could potentially occur with self-injection. Solensia should not be used in breeding cats or in pregnant or lactating queens. Solensia should not be administered to cats with known allergy to frunevetmab. The most common adverse events reported in a clinical study were vomiting and injection site pain. See full Prescribing Information at www.SolensiaPI.com.
1 Gruen ME, Myers JAE, Lascelles BDX. Efficacy and safety of an anti-nerve growth factor antibody (frunevetmab) for the treatment of degenerative joint disease-associated chronic pain in cats: a multisite pilot field study. Front Vet Sci. 2021;8:610028. doi:10.3389/fvets.2021.610028
2 Zoetis Market Research: KG MarketSense 2018.
3 Slingerland L, Hazewinkel H, Meif B, Picavet P, Voorhout G. Cross-sectional study of the prevalence and clinical features of osteoarthritis in 100 cats. Vet J. 2011;187:304-309.
4 Hardie EM, Roe SC, Martin FR. Radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease in geriatric cats: 100 cases (1994-1997). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2002;220:628-632.
5 Lascelles BDX, Brown DC, Conzemius MG, Gill M, Oshinsky ML, Sharkey M. Measurement of chronic pain in companion animals: discussions from the Pain in Animals Workshop (PAW) 2017. Veterinary Journal. 2019;250(8):71-78.
6 Keizer RJ, Huitema AD, Schellens JH, Beijnen JH. Clinical pharmacokinetics of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2010;49(8):493-507.
Source: Zoetis
