Zoetis Secures Approval For Osteoarthritis Pain Treatment  

ZAVENTEM, BELGIUM:  Zoetis, a  leading animal health company, received approval for the use of Librela, a first-of-its-kind injectable monoclonal antibody formulated to alleviate osteoarthritis pain in dogs from the European Commission in November 2020.

Librela provides veterinarians a new treatment option, combining one month of pain control and increased mobility, with a proven safety and efficacy profile. It functions like naturally occurring antibodies, with minimal involvement of the liver or kidneys in its metabolism and elimination from the body.

After one monthly injection of Librela, dogs with osteoarthritis exhibited increased mobility and decreased pain.

Librela contains bedinvetmab, which Zoetis says binds to nerve growth factor and “functions like naturally occurring antibodies, with minimal involvement of the liver or kidneys in its metabolism and elimination from the body.”

Zoetis, pointing to the results of a study, says: “After one injection of Librela, dogs with osteoarthritis exhibited increased mobility and decreased pain,” 

The product release received a thumbs-up from Duncan Lascelles, a professor of surgery and pain management at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in the US.

“We are honoured to be granted the first approval of a monoclonal antibody therapy for alleviation of pain for veterinary use,” said Dr Catherine Knupp, Executive Vice President and President, Research and Development at Zoetis. 

“As a leader in innovation for Animal Health, we are once again using our science and understanding of customer needs to find solutions that can improve the health, well-being and quality of life for pets.”