FDA Approves Vetmed Treatment for Allergic Skin Conditions in Canines

Vetmed Treatment for Allergic Skin Conditions Approved by FDA

The FDA announced today that ilunocitinib tablets (Zenrelia; Elanco) received its approval for treating allergic dermatitis in dogs. This groundbreaking drug will assist in managing pruritus associated with allergic skin conditions and is suitable for canines over one year of age.

About Ilunocitinib Tablets

Ilunocitinib is an immunosuppressant administered orally once daily, with or without food. It serves as a nonselective Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor and is the second JAK inhibitor approved by the FDA for this purpose.

• Jeff Simmons, President and CEO of Elanco Animal Health, expressed excitement about this historic approval.
• The drug will allow veterinarians and pet owners to effectively alleviate canine itchy skin.

Study Results

Elanco conducted a double-blind study comparing ilunocitinib and oclacitinib in 338 canines suffering from atopic dermatitis. The findings, gathered from 25 sites across four countries, showed both drugs to be equally effective at reducing itch on Day 28.

Safety Considerations

The safety of ilunocitinib was affirmed through various clinical studies, demonstrating no severe adverse effects even when tested in dogs administered doses exceeding recommendations. However, veterinarians must not vaccinate dogs undergoing this treatment for at least 28 days before and after use due to the risk of vaccine-induced disease.

Availability of Ilunocitinib

Ilunocitinib tablets are available only by prescription, in forms of 4.8 mg, 6.4 mg, 8.5 mg, and 15 mg. This new treatment option sets a new standard in veterinary medicine for managing allergic skin conditions.

Further Development

Partial results show that many dogs achieved a notable reduction in itchiness within just a month. Future research will focus on the treatment's impact on vaccine responses among dogs.