Fat cat? GLP-1 weight loss drugs for animals are on the horizon

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.

Related on the SLP

Battle over America’s waistline: How obesity affects having children and their health Soaring obesity rates: By 2035, more than half of the world’s 8 billion people are predicted to be obese

A meaty problem: How to make cell-grown protein taste like steak, chicken, and seafood

RFK Jr. spent two years distancing himself from Children’s Health Defense. Now he’s keynoting its anti-vaccine DC conference.

Newly approved GMO chestnut trees planted across from the White House are stirring debate

Showing Slide 1 of 4

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.

This is an excerpt. Read the original post here