US FDA approves first oral diabetes treatment for cats

The American Elanco pharmaceutical company has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Bexacat, the first orally administered diabetes medicine for cats.

This was announced on the official website of the US agency, which is the main regulator for drugs and medicine in the country. It estimates that approx. 600,000 cats are diagnosed with diabetes during their lifetime in the US, with the prevalence of this devastating disease increasing over the past decade. Research shows 125,000 cats go untreated, partially because traditional insulin treatments require frequent dosages and additional supplies for injectable administration.

According to Dr. Catharine Scott-Moncrieff, Professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Sciences at Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine, "Bexacat will be a game changer for the management of cats newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus".

The medicine (bexagliflozin tablets) is anticipated to become widely available to American veterinarians in the first quarter of 2023.