A Convenient Solution to Rapidly Stop the Cycle of pruritus in Allergic Dogs and Clinical Signs of Atopic Dermatitis in Dogs
Zoetis announced that the UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has granted the marketing authorisation for Apoquel® chewable tablets (oclacitinib) for the treatment of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis and the treatment of clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis in dogs. This Marketing Authorisation is valid for Great Britain: the Marketing Authorisation for the EU market is expected later this year following the Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) positive opinion received on 7th October 2021.
“The approval of Apoquel chewable tablets provides a convenient new treatment option for dogs that suffer from allergic skin conditions, relieving itch and affording damaged skin an opportunity to heal, while giving the veterinary surgeon opportunity to identify the underlying cause of the dog’s itch” said Jonny Lambert, National Veterinary Manager, Zoetis UK. “Zoetis is committed to research and development programs that advance the health and quality of life for pets while serving the unmet needs of our veterinary customers in better ways.”
Developed by Zoetis, Apoquel chewable tablets is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor approved for veterinary use that targets the itch and inflammation pathway. Apoquel chewable tablets provide convenient and palatable fast-acting relief from itching for dogs in Great Britain that suffer from short- and long-term allergic skin conditions.
“Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common allergies in dogs, affecting approximately 10 percent of the dog population1. Itching caused by an allergic skin disease can impact the quality of life for both the dog and its owner unless they are controlled with effective management. Apoquel chewable tablets now offers a new convenient and palatable solution for dog owners” said Ben Hurst, Product Manager, Zoetis UK.
Discovered and developed by Zoetis, Apoquel chewable tablets will be available by prescription only. Apoquel chewable tablets, dosed at 0.4 to 0.6 mg/kg, are administered orally, twice daily for up to 14 days, and then administered once daily for maintenance therapy.
Zoetis plans to make Apoquel chewable tablets available to veterinarians in 2022. For more information, please see the product SPC. As the latest addition to the company’s diverse portfolio of companion animal dermatology products (including Apoquel film coated tablets and Cytopoint), this approval signifies an important milestone for the leading animal health company.
About APOQUEL
APOQUEL chewable is uniquely targeted to stop itch and inflammation associated with allergic skin disease. It is a selective inhibitor of the Janus kinase (JAK) 1 enzyme, a protein that is integral to the signaling pathway that results in itching and inflammation. Its novel mechanism of action on the JAK enzyme is specifically designed to target the pruritogenic and proinflammatory pathways involved in the itch cycle, allowing control of the signs of allergic disease