The GLP-1 boom spearheaded by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly has already reshaped how millions of people think about obesity, diabetes, and food. Now, the same class of drugs is spilling over into a new market: household pets.
Akston Biosciences is sponsoring a Cornell University clinical study of a once-weekly GLP-1 therapy for overweight and obese cats, while San Francisco-based OKAVA Pharmaceuticals has begun testing a long-acting implant designed to deliver the medicine continuously for up to six months.
Neither product is approved, and there is currently no commercial “Ozempic for cats.” Both remain early-stage clinical trials that will need to demonstrate they are safe and effective before reaching veterinarians.
The studies point to a broader shift already underway in pet care. As owners spend more on premium food, supplements, diagnostics and veterinary treatments, it’s creating new opportunities for biotech alongside traditional pet-food companies.
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According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 61% of cats and 59% of dogs evaluated by U.S. veterinary professionals in 2022 were classified as overweight or obese, highlighting the scale of a problem long familiar to veterinarians.
