Akston announced the start of a clinical study at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine to evaluate its once-weekly GLP-1 weight-management therapy for cats. The trial will assess the therapy over approximately three months in client-owned domestic cats affected by excess weight.
According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 61% of U.S. cats were classified as overweight or having obesity in 2022. The APOP 2024 Pet Weight & Nutrition Opinion Survey found 33% of U.S. cat parents categorized their cats as overweight or having obesity, compared to 28% in 2023.
The Akston therapy is a GLP-1 protein designed to help cats regulate their appetite. In preclinical studies conducted at Cornell University in laboratory cats, no adverse effects or unanticipated events were observed.
Pharmacokinetics analysis demonstrated that the candidate supports once-weekly dosing. The therapy is built on the company's Fc-fusion protein platform, which enables therapies to be designed, synthesized and tested while tailoring immune system interactions to achieve extended duration of action.
"Feline obesity is one of the most common yet least effectively treated health issues in veterinary medicine," said Todd Zion, PhD, co-founder and chief executive officer of Akston. "By advancing a once-weekly GLP-1 therapy, we're addressing a real unmet need and aiming to give cats the chance at longer, healthier lives."
Enrollment for the study is open at Cornell University. The study is screening its first cats, aiming to enroll 70 cats with the option to expand to 140.
"Delivering a tool for veterinarians to more effectively manage cats with excess weight would be a true breakthrough, offering a safe and effective option where one doesn't currently exist," said Patrick Carney, DVM, PhD, associate professor of clinical sciences at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. "We are pleased to see the enthusiasm of cat owners looking to enroll their pets and provide the data needed for the regulatory approval process."
Akston said it is also advancing a GLP-1 program for dogs, which is approximately six months behind the feline program.
Akston Biosciences designs, develops, and manufactures protein therapeutics for pets, using a species-specific platform for targeted care.
