Zoetis Receives European Commission Marketing Authorization for Lenivia® (izenivetmab) to Reduce Pain Associated with Osteoarthritis (OA) in Dogs

Zoetis Inc. announced that the European Commission has granted the company marketing authorization for Lenivia® (izenivetmab) for the reduction of pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs.

Lenivia is a new antibody therapy that reduces OA pain in dogs for three months with one injection through its novel binding properties to nerve growth factor (NGF), recognized as an important mediator of pain and inflammation. Lenivia is built on a decade of science and research, with a safety profile demonstrated in a nine-month field study where dogs receiving Lenivia experienced increased mobility and decreased pain after one injection.

“As pioneers in animal health innovation and veterinary monoclonal antibody development, our scientists at Zoetis are dedicated to thoroughly understanding the distinct biology of each species. This commitment fuels our discovery and development efforts to address our customers’ unmet medical needs,” said Rob Polzer, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and President, Research and Development at Zoetis. “The European Commission’s marketing authorization for Lenivia marks another important step forward in managing osteoarthritis pain in dogs.”

Significance of OA Pain
Osteoarthritis is a common, chronic and progressive joint disease characterized by the inflammation and breakdown of joints, resulting in pain and mobility issues. Although the disease cannot be cured, much can be done to reduce the associated pain, leading to improved quality of life. Nearly 40 percent of dogs of any age or size may be affected by OA pain1, 2, and chronic pain can negatively impact dogs’ movement, sleep, behavior and social relationships3.

“Osteoarthritis can be painful for dogs and negatively impact their quality of life. We see daily some patients for which we don’t have a proper solution to help them be more comfortable and happier,” said Dr. Guillaume Ragetly, DVM, PhD, DACVS (SA),DECVS, an orthopaedic surgeon in France. “Having more tools to help dogs control pain from osteoarthritis is important for veterinarians to continue to provide the standard of care pet owners expect today.”

Continued Innovation to Meet Medical Needs
Zoetis continues to advance care for animals around the globe with a robust pipeline fueled by lifecycle innovations, geographic expansion and disruptive innovation. Lenivia joins Librela® (bedinvetmab) in the company’s growing portfolio of OA pain products for dogs. Like Librela, Lenivia is a monoclonal antibody that targets NGF; however, Lenivia is designed to reduce pain for a longer period of time by binding to a different site on NGF.

“We are pleased to introduce Lenivia as our first long-acting therapy that reduces OA pain in dogs, leading to improved quality of life and mobility. It also provides added convenience for pet owners who want to bring their dogs in for an injection just once every three months," said Richard Goldstein, DVM, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA, Global Chief Medical Officer and Head of Medical Affairs at Zoetis. "Four years ago in Europe, we introduced the first monoclonal antibody therapy designed to manage pain associated with OA in dogs, and we look forward to providing veterinarians with another innovative tool to help them manage pain associated with OA for the animals in their care.”