NEW PILL CAN TREAT DIABETIC CATS WITHOUT DAILY INSULIN SHOTS

When Mark Winternheimer’s 12-year-old tabby cat was diagnosed with diabetes last year, the treatment was daunting: twicedaily injections of insulin, an implanted monitor and frequent visits to the vet.

Still, Winternheimer and his wife, Courtnee, of New Albany, Ind., learned to give Oliver his shots.

“For us, they’re part of the family,” Winternheimer said of Oliver and their other cats, Ella and Theo. “You wouldn’t deny another family member care if it’s available.”

Now, a new, once-daily pill promises to make treating feline diabetes easier in newly diagnosed animals, without the shots.

One caveat: The pill called Bexacat can’t be used in cats like Oliver, who had previously received insulin.

While many cat owners successfully treat with twice-daily insulin, others struggle. Research shows that owners put down 1 in 10 cats with a new diabetes diagnosis. Another 10 percent are euthanized within a year.

“Some people are afraid of giving insulin injections. Some people don’t have the time to dedicate to the care of their cats,” said Dr. Catharine Scott-Moncrieff, a Purdue University veterinarian who consulted with the makers of Bexacat on the product testing.

Made by Elanco Animal Health Inc., Bexacat was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in December and is expected to be available in the U.S. within weeks. It’s the first drug of its type approved for animals; similar drugs have been approved for people for about a decade.

Diabetes is caused when too much glucose, or sugar, builds up in the bloodstream because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, a hormone, or use it properly. Bexacat lowers blood sugar by causing it to be excreted in urine. Symptoms of feline diabetes include increased thirst and urination, increased appetite and weight loss.

In studies involving more than 300 diabetic cats, Bexacat improved glucose control and decreased at least one symptom of diabetes in more than 80 percent of newly diagnosed, healthy animals, company documents show. But several cats died or had to be euthanized after taking the drug, prompting a warning about possible side effects, including diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening complication.

Because of those concerns, the drug can’t be used in cats previously treated with insulin and animals must be carefully screened for liver, kidney and pancreatic disease and to ensure that they’re otherwise healthy, said ScottMoncrieff.

“It will be life-changing for some cats and some owners, but it’s not for every cat,” Scott-Moncrieff said.

The list price for the drug is about $53 a month, according to Elanco. Most vets will double or triple the cost of the drug, charging pet owners about $100 to $150 a month, said Dr. Audrey Cook, a cat veterinarian at Texas A&M University.