FDA approves first oral treatment for cats with diabetes

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Elanco Animal Health Inc's drug for cats with a type of diabetes, making it the first oral drug to be approved for the disease in animals, Report informs via Reuters.

Bexacat helps improve glycemic control in otherwise healthy cats with diabetes mellitus not previously treated with insulin.

The animal healthcare company expects the drug will be available to US veterinarians in the first quarter of 2023, Michael Breer, Elanco's senior director for US pet health consulting veterinarians, said.

An estimated 600,000 cats in the United States are diagnosed with diabetes and research shows nearly 125,000 cats go untreated due to the complexity of today's options, Breer said.

Cats with diabetes mellitus often require lifelong therapy and are traditionally treated with a combination of insulin and proper diet. Without proper treatment, cats with the disease show symptoms of increased thirst and urine output, weight loss and higher appetite.