Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that Senvelgo (velagliflozin oral solution), a revolutionary new treatment for cats with diabetes, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Senvelgo is a once-daily liquid oral solution that cat owners can give with a small amount of food or directly into the cat’s mouth.

Feline diabetes is one of the most common endocrine disorders in cats, with studies showing that up to 30% of diagnosed cats are left untreated due to the complexities of existing treatments.

Up to one in three diabetic cats is euthanized within the first year of diagnosis and the complexity required to treat diabetic cats is often a contributing factor. SENVELGO® oral solution simplifies the treatment process and removes the need for needles to improve glycemic control in cats with diabetes mellitus not previously treated with insulin.

Dr. Cynthia Ward, Professor Emerita of Internal Medicine at the University of Georgia and member of the U.S. Boehringer Ingelheim Diabetes Advisory Board says, “SENVELGO® oral solution is a game-changer that will revolutionize the management of feline diabetes. It significantly eases the complexity of feline diabetes treatment and is easy to administer. In addition, SENVELGO® oral solution makes it simpler to successfully monitor treatment and makes time-intensive blood glucose curve monitoring redundant.”

As soon as one week after beginning treatment, SENVELGO® oral solution improves the clinical signs of diabetes that cats experience by reducing elevated blood glucose levels and minimizing the risk of clinical hypoglycemic events. The novel drug comes in liquid form, the formulation that cats and cat owners prefer, according to studies.

Daniel Watkins, Head of U.S. Pet at Boehringer Ingelheim says, “At Boehringer Ingelheim, we are passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of animals. Senvelgo oral solution is a convenient feline therapeutic product and demonstrates our dedication to continuously deliver and drive new and innovative products to address the unique needs of cats. SENVELGO® oral solution can help pet owners and their diabetic cats continue to enjoy a normal life, despite this chronic disease.”

Senvelgo oral solution will be available in veterinary clinics in the U.S. by mid-October. The company plans to launch SENVELGO® oral solution in countries around the world, pending regulatory approvals.