Novartis Animal Health has announced the launch of Atopica for Cats (cyclosporine oral solution, 100 mg/ml), a treatment for chronic allergic dermatitisIn case you missed the email last month, Novartis Animal Health has announced the launch of Atopica for Cats (cyclosporine oral solution, 100 mg/ml), a treatment for chronic allergic dermatitis.

This disease, which is apparently one of the most common reasons for pet owners to take cats to the veterinary surgeon2, can be difficult to diagnose and causes itching and associated chewing and licking, skin lesions and loss of hair. Atopica for Cats is the first medication approved in the UK specifically for allergic dermatitis in cats.

Novartis says the new product provides relief from the uncomfortable and recurrent itch/scratch cycle, and the majority of improvements are seen in the first four weeks3-5. The company also says that in clinical trials, 84 per cent of cats diagnosed with allergic dermatitis were considered to be "uncomfortable" at the start of the study5. After six weeks of treatment with Atopica for Cats, 78 per cent of cats were considered "comfortable" with satisfactory levels of grooming3 - a key indicator of a healthy cat. Additionally, Atopica for Cats is proven to significantly reduce unsightly and painful skin lesions and has a proven safety profile.

Anne-Laure Driscoll, Atopica Brand Manager, Novartis Animal Health UK, said: "Veterinarians and pet owners understand the discomfort and frustration of an itchy pet. We are pleased to add Atopica for Cats to our proven family of Atopica products, offering an effective treatment for cats suffering from the extreme discomfort associated with allergic dermatitis."

Developed specifically for domestic felines, Atopica for Cats is an oral solution which Novartis says is easy-to-dose and administer. In studies, approximately one-third of cats took the medicine in their food and two-thirds were dosed directly into the mouth3,4. According to the company, the product offers a unique mode of action that specifically targets immune cells such as the T-lymphocytes involved in the allergic reaction. In this way, Atopica for Cats blocks the production of inflammatory cytokines, molecules that fuel the allergic response, breaking the recurrent itch/scratch cycle.

Dr. Keith Hnilica, DVM, MS, MBA and DACVD, and author of Small Animal Dermatology: A Color Atlas and Therapeutic Guide (3rd ed), said: "Atopica for Cats has the potential to change how our profession treats the itchy cat. For the first time ever, we have a safe, highly effective, approved treatment for cats with allergic dermatitis. And because Atopica for Cats is not a corticosteroid, I can prescribe it for long-term use without worrying about the health risks that can be associated with steroids."

References

  1. Atopica for Cats is indicated for symptomatic treatment of chronic allergic dermatitis in cats in the EU, and for control of feline allergic dermatitis in the US.
  2. Veterinary Practice News, April 2011: Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), top 10 pet medical conditions of 2010, p10.
  3. Novartis data on file. Study summary CYCINT-0105.
  4. Novartis data on file. Study summary CYCINT-0205.
  5. Novartis data on file. Study summary NAH-07-0028.
  6. Lowe AD et al. Glucocorticoids in the cat. Vet Derm, 2008, 19, 340-347

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