Obese cats are now being given Ozempic

An Ozempic-style medication designed for overweight cats is becoming available for further development and is being promoted as a potential breakthrough treatment for terminal feline illnesses.

OKAVA Pharmaceuticals, a pet medication company, announced the successful completion of a clinical trial for its MEOW-1 drug, a feline GLP-1 agonist. The company said the medication could increase quality of life, promote healthy aging, and potentially become the most impactful life-extending therapy for pet cats.

According to the company, the drug is intended to do more than support weight loss. OKAVA says it may help address common metabolic conditions in cats, including kidney disease and diabetes.

"Caloric restriction, or fasting, is one of the most well-established interventions for extending lifespan and improving metabolic health in cats," said Michael Klotsman, CEO of OKAVA, in a public statement. "But it’s also one of the hardest to maintain. 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."

OKV-199 is a small implant placed beneath the skin that slowly releases the drug over a period of up to six months.

If the MEOW-1 trial continues to show positive results, OKAVA said it plans to launch a larger trial before applying for FDA approval. The company hopes the drug could be available to consumers by 2028 or 2029.

The treatment is expected to be particularly beneficial for pet owners struggling to manage obesity and related health conditions in their cats.