Upcoming Webinars on Evolving Science in Osteoarthritis (OA) and Innovative Therapies in Development to Treat OA Pain for Cats and Dogs

(25.08.2020) Zoetis partners with World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and its Global Pain Council (GPC) to provide important updates on osteoarthritis and potential new tools for OA pain management to veterinarians worldwide

Webinars presented on September 16 and 17 by Dr. Duncan Lascelles, Professor of Surgery and Pain Management at North Carolina State University and Chair of the WSAVA Global Pain Council (GPC), will explore the latest thinking on mechanisms contributing to pain and inflammation in cats and dogs.

Dr. Lascelles will also discuss a new class of potential pain therapies in development targeting Nerve Growth Factor (NGF).

“The prevalence of OA in both cats and dogs is often under-recognized, with recent market research indicating that veterinarians believe only 23 per cent of dogs and 13 per cent of cats are diagnosed with OA[1],” Dr. Lascelles stated. “Our studies and our collaborative research with others have indicated it is a much more widespread issue.”

Dr. Lascelles stresses the importance of diagnosing this disease because, “OA pain impacts many areas of a pet’s life. It is about much more than just cats and dogs having trouble moving around as they get older. As well as the more obvious impact on gait and movement, OA pain can affect the pet’s sleep, cognitive function, affect (emotion) and social relationships, among several other factors.

If left untreated, OA pain and dysfunction can even lead to pet owners considering end of life decisions for their cat or dog. Thankfully, this loss of wellbeing in a pet is something that can be managed by veterinarians to lessen the impact of pain on a dog or cat’s quality of life.”

“The research I’ll be outlining in the upcoming webinars will show both new insights on osteoarthritis and that there’s great potential for new pain therapies in development, like anti-NGF antibody therapy, to provide powerful new tools for veterinarians treating OA pain. This is very exciting as anti-NGF antibody therapy could potentially be the first new class of pain medication approved in the past 20 years.”

Zoetis is proud to support the WSAVA Global Pain Council (GPC) which works to enhance companion animal health care and welfare globally through increasing the confidence and competence of veterinarians and veterinary technicians/nurses around the world in managing the pain suffered by their patients. 

For example, the GPC recently launched ‘teach the teacher’ training initiatives for both veterinarians and technicians. Initiatives also include the WSAVA Global Pain Guidelines, the association’s most frequently accessed free resource for veterinary professionals.

For more than 20 years, together with veterinarians, Zoetis has been making a difference in improving the lives of dogs with osteoarthritis. Zoetis’ current OA pain products include Rimadyl® (carprofen), and in some countries, the long-acting NSAID Trocoxil® (mavacoxib).

In 2016, Zoetis introduced the first monoclonal antibody therapy for atopic dermatitis (Cytopoint®) to veterinarians. Today, Zoetis researchers are applying their expertise in monoclonal antibody development to explore new options for OA pain control. Zoetis is committed to bringing meaningful new medications to veterinarians, pet owners and pets through innovation.

The webinars will be broadcast in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese on WSAVA’s YouTube Channel at 16.00 (UTC) on September 16 and 17.