7 Spring 2026 | Animal Health Solutions
1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. New World Screwworm: Information for Veterinarians. FDA. Updated February 19, 2026. Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/animal-
veterinary/safety-health/new-world-screwworm-information-veterinarians
2. OKAVA Pharmaceuticals. OKAVA Announces First Cat Dosed in MEOW-1 Study of OKV-119, the World's First GLP-1 Weight-Loss Therapy for Pets. EIN Presswire. Published
December 2, 2025. Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/871966123/okava-announces-first-cat-dosed-in-meow-1-study-of-okv-119-the-world-s-first-glp-1-
weight-loss-therapy-for-pets
3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Grants Full Approval of First Oral Treatment for Lymphoma in Dogs. FDA. January 16, 2026. Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/
animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-grants-full-approval-first-oral-treatment-lymphoma-dogs.
4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves First Generic Robenacoxib Tablet for Postoperative Pain & Inflammation in Cats. FDA. January 9, 2026. Accessed March 2, 2026.
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-approves-first-generic-robenacoxib-tablet-postoperative-pain-inflammation-cats
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Clinical evaluation of GLP-1
therapy for feline obesity
2
OKAVA Pharmaceuticals is conducting
a clinical study of a novel GLP-1
receptor agonist implant designed
for feline weight management,
marking a potential new approach
to weight loss therapy for pets. The
San Francisco–based company dosed
the first cat in the MEOW-1 study in
December 2025.
The investigational product, OKV-119,
is delivered via a small subcutaneous
implant that provides a steady dose
of medication for up to six months.
Conducted under an FDA-CVM
Investigational New Animal Drug
(INAD) application, the MEOW-1 study
will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and
weight-loss efficacy of the implant in
overweight or obese client-owned cats.
MEOW-1 marks the first-ever GLP-1
weight-loss clinical trial conducted
in cats or dogs. Study results are
expected in summer 2026.
If successful, the long-acting implant-
based therapy could help address
adherence challenges associated with
daily oral medications and expand
treatment options for feline obesity.
First FDA-approved oral
chemotherapeutic for
canine lymphoma
3
The FDA has granted full approval
to Laverdia
®
(verdinexor tablets) for
the treatment of canine lymphoma,
making it the first FDA-approved
oral medication for this indication.
The approval follows four years of
conditional approval under the Minor
Use/Minor Species pathway.
Laverdia works by trapping tumor
suppressor proteins (TSPs) and growth
regulatory proteins (GRPs) inside the
nucleus of cells, triggering apoptosis
in lymphoma cells and helping slow
the spread of cancer. The prescription
therapy is administered orally at
home twice weekly. Because of its
classification as a chemotherapeutic
agent, careful client education and
adherence to handling precautions
are required.
The availability of a targeted oral,
at-home treatment option may improve
access to lymphoma therapy for
dogs whose owners are not pursuing
conventional chemotherapy treatment,
are awaiting referral to an oncologist,
or are managing relapsed disease.
First generic robenacoxib
tablets approved for cats
4
The FDA has approved the first generic
robenacoxib tablets for the control of
postoperative pain and inflammation in
cats, expanding access to a commonly
used feline NSAID. The generic product
is indicated for cats at least 4 months
of age and weighing at least 5.5
pounds following orthopedic surgery,
ovariohysterectomy, or castration.
Sponsored by ZyVet Animal Health,
the generic tablets are bioequivalent
to Onsior
®
, the brand-name product
approved in 2011. Dosing is approved
for up to three days, consistent with
the labeled use of the reference
product. The approval may improve
affordability and availability of short-
term pain management options for
feline patients.
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