Elanco Animal Health Incorporated has sent its first shipments of Varenzin™-CA1 (molidustat oral suspension) to veterinary clinics around the country. Varenzin-CA1 has been conditionally approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first and only treatment to control non-regenerative anemia in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Anemia from CKD can dramatically affect a cat’s existence, making them lethargic, reducing their appetite, and even leading to a rapid heart rate and difficulty breathing in severe cases. According to the FDA, CKD-related anemia is a complication that often contributes to death or euthanasia of affected cats due to poor quality of life. The challenges of current therapy to address this devastating condition often include inconvenient and extra-label use of a human drug.
“Varenzin-CA1 is the first drug to receive conditional approval for use in cats, providing access to a novel medicine for our feline companions suffering from nonregenerative anemia due to CKD,” said the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, upon conditionally approving the product. “Additionally, this is the first drug for cats under expanded conditional approval, a pathway to the marketplace that encourages development of innovative treatments and increases the options for treating animals with uncommon conditions, serious or life-threatening diseases, or diseases without existing or adequate therapies.”
CKD-related anemia stops cats’ bone marrow from producing enough red blood cells to replace the older or damaged red blood cells that are naturally removed from the blood, resulting in the inability for oxygen to be carried from the lungs throughout the body. CKD is common among mature and senior cats, occurring in about 15-30% of feline patients over 12 years old.
Anemia is a common finding in over half of all CKD-diagnosed cats. However, prior to Varenzin-CA1, less than one-third of anemic cats received treatment. This latest innovation from Elanco addresses an unmet need for this chronic condition in mature cats and furthers Elanco’s feline portfolio aimed at keeping cats healthy throughout their lives, especially as they age.
“Chronic kidney disease is not curable, so veterinarians and pet owners are focused on improving quality of life and slowing disease progression in affected cats,” said Dr. Melinda Wood, Specialty Consulting Veterinarian at Elanco. “Varenzin-CA1 is an innovative, needle-free oral suspension option for cats that can be given at-home – no in-clinic injections needed. This innovation sets a new standard of care for cats suffering from the debilitating effects of this disease. It represents a paradigm shift in the early-treatment of CKD-related anemia and helps CKD cats feel more like their feline selves.”
“The bond with our pets only deepens over time,” says Dr. Wood. “Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for aging cats to be diagnosed with conditions that steal their personalities and make it hard for their owners to provide ongoing care. Elanco is uniquely offering products to address these later-stage health challenges, so cat owners no longer have to accept a sub-optimal existence for their mature and senior pets.”
—
Photo Credit: David Herraez Calzada / Shutterstock.com