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Meowzempic is here.
Experts estimate that more than half of the world’s pet cats are overweight — and now the flabby tabbies might soon have their own version of Ozempic.
Pet meds company OKAVA Pharmaceuticals has announced that the first clinical trial — dubbed MEOW-1 (ManagEment of OverWeight cats with OKV-119) — for a feline GLP-1 agonist drug was a success.
The pet-tailored GLP-1 has the potential to enhance quality of life, promote healthy aging and even become the “most impactful life-extending therapy” available for felines, according to a press release.
Beyond simply weight loss, the drug could be the solution for common metabolic feline illnesses, such as diabetes and kidney disease, thereby aiding healthy aging and longevity.
“Caloric restriction, or fasting, is one of the most well-established interventions for extending lifespan and improving metabolic health in cats,” Michael Klotsman, PhD, MBA, CEO of OKAVA, said in a statement. “But it’s also one of the hardest to maintain.
OKV-119 is administered as an implant just below the skin, which will slowly release the drug into the cat’s system for up to six months.
“OKV-119 is designed to mimic many of the physiological effects of fasting — improved insulin sensitivity, reduced fat mass, and more efficient energy metabolism — without requiring significant changes in feeding routines or disrupting the human–animal bond that often centers around food,” Klotsman explained.
The announcement gives hope to cat parents who are struggling to get their chubby cats back to a healthy weight.
If the MEOW-1 trial is ultimately successful, OKAVA plans to launch a larger trial and, soon, apply for approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The company hopes OKV-119 could be available as soon as 2028 or 2029.
