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Following the popularity of the lizard venom-derived GLP-1 weightless drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, two pharmaceutical research companies are now developing a similar drug for pets whose owners refuse to feed them less.
“Obesity isn’t just a human problem; around 60% of cats and dogs in the U.S. are considered overweight or obese. Now, a new treatment that started with humans may be making its way to our furry friends,” PHL17 News reported Wednesday.
The press release reads:
Vivani Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: VANI) (“Vivani” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing miniature, ultra long-acting drug implants, and Okava Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Okava”), a clinical-stage company focused on diseases of aging in dogs and cats, today announced an expansion of their collaboration to include dogs in the development of OKV-119, a long-acting GLP-1 therapy for weight management, diabetes and other cardiometabolic conditions. Vivani and Okava initiated their collaboration in 2019, with a focus on developing OKV-119 for cardiometabolic conditions in cats.
OKV-119 leverages Vivani’s proprietary NanoPortal™ technology, which provides smooth and steady delivery of therapeutic molecules, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, over extended periods from a single implant. According to Okava, dosing every six months or longer supports a “One-and-Done” approach between office visits consistent with the product profile of Vivani’s NPM-115, an ultra long-acting GLP-1 implant in clinical stage development to improve medication adherence and tolerability for the treatment of chronic weight management in humans.
One of the firm’s CEO’s described how this drug will allow pet owners to continue overfeeding their animals while drugging them into a thin state.
“Caloric restriction, or fasting, is one of the most well-established interventions for extending the lifespan and improving metabolic health in dogs,” Okava CEO Michael Klotsman said in the press release. “But it is also one of the hardest to maintain. OKV-119 mimics many of the physiological effects of fasting—improved insulin sensitivity, reduced fat mass and more efficient energy metabolism—without requiring significant changes in feeding routines or disrupting the human-animal bond that often centers around food.”
There is now an epidemic of humans overfeeding their pets. This drug could potentially allow the epidemic to continue, but without the fatness aspect.
“We’ve all seen the sad eyes. That look your pet gives you when the food bowl is empty can be hard to resist. And for pets that require more stimulus, eating food or indulging in extra treats can help ease the feeling of boredom (that goes for humans, too)!” The Animal Humane Society said. “It’s no wonder that one in three cats and dogs living in the U.S. are overweight. According to a 2019 Banfield Pet Hospital study, the percentage of overweight and obese pets has reached epidemic levels, and diseases commonly associated with excess weight ― including osteoarthritis ― are on the rise.”
Around 12%, or one in eight Americans have now tried a drug like Wegovy or Ozempic (the same percentage that are on SNAP and EBT food stamps).
These drugs have been linked to blindness and users have been shown to carry a higher risk of suicide.
VIDEO: Trump Promotes Poisonous Gila Monster & Anglerfish Toxin In Press Conference Revealing Ozempic Drug Price Cuts
