Biopharmaceutical company Okava Pharmaceuticals has announced the start of a pilot study of a GLP-1 drug for obese cats. The medication is delivered not through injections but via a small subcutaneous implant that releases the compound slowly over six months.
The study, called MEOW-1, will involve at least 50 animals. Two thirds will receive the active drug, while the rest are given a placebo. Researchers will monitor the cats for three months, after which owners can join a three-month extension. Initial results are expected next summer.
Developers believe the drug could be a breakthrough in veterinary medicine. Around 60% of cats and dogs in the U.S. are overweight, and hundreds of thousands suffer from diabetes. Current treatments are difficult and costly: daily insulin injections are demanding, and many diabetic pets are euthanized within a year of diagnosis.
The GLP-1 implant mimics a hormone that stimulates insulin production, slows digestion and reduces appetite. The mechanism is similar to human drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, but the price is expected to be lower. Okava aims to keep the cost at around $100 per month.
However, success is not guaranteed. Pet owners do not always treat obesity as an illness, and feeding is often seen as the main form of affection. A previous weight-loss drug for dogs was discontinued because decreased appetite upset the owners rather than the animals.
If results are promising, Okava plans a larger clinical trial and an FDA application. The company also intends to explore use not only for weight loss but also for diabetes and chronic kidney disease.