Elanco Animal Health announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Bexacat™ (bexagliflozin tablets), the first orally administered prescription medication to improve glycemic control in cats with diabetes mellitus.
An estimated 600,000 cats in the U.S. are diagnosed with diabetes during their lifetime, with the prevalence of this devastating disease increasing over the past decade.i,ii Research shows 125,000 cats go untreated, partially because traditional insulin treatments require frequent dosages and additional supplies for injectable administration.iii Left untreated, feline diabetes can result in weight loss, loss of appetite, vomiting, dehydration, severe depression, problems with motor function, coma, and even death.
Bexacat is the first sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor approved by the FDA in any animal species. Bexacat introduces a new mechanism of action for veterinarians and pet owners that offers a non-insulin, needle-free, once-daily oral medication specifically designed for cats with diabetes mellitus. This first-in-class therapeutic is indicated to improve glycemic control in otherwise healthy cats with diabetes mellitus not previously treated with insulin. Elanco licensed development and commercialization rights for bexagliflozin from BexCaFe, an affiliate of IncreVet.