Latest news with #MichaelKlotsman
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Doggy 'Mounjaro' could be the next solution for treating pudgy pets
A new form of pet health care may be on the horizon as scientists sniff around weight loss drugs for dogs. With many people wanting to lose weight across the globe, drugs such as Mounjaro have become a household name. Helping people manage their weight, those on a health kick along with the medication are able to learn how to eat healthier and have a better lifestyle. Following on from their apparent success, researchers are now turning their view to a different form of clientele that they believe may be in need of a detox. While many of us see our four-legged friends as perfect no matter how they look, it turns out that up to 60 per cent of dogs in the UK are classed as obese or overweight. With this startling stat, some scientists feel like there is room in the market for weight loss drugs for dogs. And it may not be too far on the horizon. San Francisco-based bio-phama company Okava have set their sites on the new frontier of pet health and are planning to run trials of a drug that will mimic the effects of medications like Ozempic. The end goal is to create an implant version of the drug for dogs, which will last for six months at a time. Ozempic is not marketed as a weight loss drug but one to prescribed to type 2 diabetes patients to help manage their condition by controlling blood sugar levels alongside other medications and lifestyle changes. However, it has gained popularity and attention for its potential role in weight loss, which can be a side effect of the drug's appetite-controlling abilities. With hopes of have the canine weight loss drug available as early as 2028 or 2029, the US company estimates the current market for this product could be worth up to $10billion. In terms of the human version, the drugs mimic a natural hormone called GLP-1 which regulates blood sugar and appetite. In Mounjaro is active ingredient is called tirzepatide, whereas Ozempic uses semaglutide. The ultimate goal of these ingredients is to leave users feeling fuller for longer, which will end up reducing their overall food intake. As scientists try to mimic this hormone for dogs, it is hoped that the drug will help reduce the begging behaviour of our furry pals, which many owners find hard to resist. However, researchers will need to make sure they find the right balance with the drug as a lack of appetite in our canine companions is normally associated with being unwell. This isn't the first weight loss drug that has been created for pets, as Slentrol was released in 2007. However, this creation didn't end up selling well, partly due to owners believing their pets seemed ill while on the medication. However, Okava's chief executive Michael Klotsman hopes that any behavioural changes in dogs while using their drug will be quite different. The planned implant by Okava has been named OKV-119 and will contain a GLP-1 mimic called exenatide. Michael told The Guardian: "What owners should expect to see is their pet eating appropriate portions without the previous food obsession – they'll still eat regularly and show interest in meals, just without the excessive begging, scavenging or gulping behaviour." However, not everyone is fully on board with the idea. Many vets are instead advising that overweight dogs, in most cases, are able to lose the extra pounds through more exercise and a restricted diet Caroline Allen, chief veterinary officer at the RSPCA told The Independent: "A healthy diet and exercise is the best way to keep our pets happy and well but we understand that owners can sometimes struggle to manage their pets' weight. "There is currently little information about proposed weight-loss implants or vaccinations for animals, and owners shouldn't rely on them becoming available. "Before resorting to these sorts of interventions, owners should seek help from their vet about how to reduce their pet's weight with a good diet and providing lots of opportunities to exercise and play in ways that their pet will enjoy." She added: "It may be that weight loss jabs or implants may have a role to play in future in very limited circumstances where animals are clinically unwell, but the best thing we can do is set healthy habits from the start so our pets can live the best life possible." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Cats and dogs could get fat jabs
Weight-loss jabs could soon be administered to cats and dogs. Veterinary equivalents of drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro are being developed and tested by boffins and could be delivered to canines and felines via implants. Early clinical trials in cats have revealed that small doses of the drug exenatide - which works similarly to the anti-obesity medication semaglutide - are effective when it comes to reducing the calorie intake and body weight of animals. A trial last year fitted five moggies with an experimental implant known as OKV-119, which released the chemical into the animal's blood for 84 days. Analysis revealed that four of five cats had a reduction in body mass of at least five per cent. The trial is now being extended to dogs in a partnership with drug companies Okava and Vivani and the medication could be available as early as 2028 should it be successful. Michael Klotsman, the chief executive of Okava, told The Guardian newspaper: "What owners should expect to see is their pet eating appropriate portions without the previous food obsession - they'll still eat regularly and show interest in meals, just without the excess begging, scavenging or gulping behaviour."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Ozempic for dogs' may be the next big thing in pet health
With the runaway success of drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro effectively helping humans slim down, researchers and biotech firms are now sniffing out a new frontier: weight-loss drugs for dogs. With up to 60 per cent of dogs in the UK estimated to be overweight or obese, the market for such drugs could be considerable. Okava, a San Francisco-based bio-pharma company which specialises in pet health, is planning to run trials for a drug designed to mimic the effects of Ozempic, with the goal to produce an implant-version for dogs, which lasts six-months at a time. According to estimates on the company's website, the current market for such a product could be worth $10bn, and they hope to have a canine weight-loss drug available as early as 2028 or 2029. In human weight-loss drugs, the active ingredient in Mounjaro is called tirzepatide, and in Ozempic, it is semaglutide. Both work in similar ways, mimicking a natural hormone called GLP-1. This hormone regulates blood sugar and appetite, ultimately leading people to feel fuller longer and reducing food intake. The challenge for biotech firms is to reproduce that effect in dogs – a species well-known for practically limitless gorging. The hope is that an Ozempic-style drug may reduce dogs' begging behaviour, which many owners find it difficult to resist rewarding. Often, lack of appetite in dogs is associated with illness, meaning developing an effective drug that doesn't appear to make pets seem unwell is a fine balance. One such drug, named Slentrol, was launched in 2007, but did not sell well, partly due to how owners' perceived their pets behaviour when on the medication. Okava's planned implant, called OKV-119, contains a GLP-1 mimic called exenatide. Michael Klotsman, Okava's chief executive, said he hoped dogs' behavioural changes from OKV-119 would be quite different from illness-related appetite loss. 'What owners should expect to see is their pet eating appropriate portions without the previous food obsession – they'll still eat regularly and show interest in meals, just without the excessive begging, scavenging or gulping behaviour,' he told The Guardian. But not all tails are wagging. Vets have suggested that in most cases, dog owners would be better off avoiding obesity in their dogs through more exercise and by restricting their pets' diets. Caroline Allen, Chief Veterinary Officer at the RSPCA told The Independent: 'A healthy diet and exercise is the best way to keep our pets happy and well but we understand that owners can sometimes struggle to manage their pets' weight. There is currently little information about proposed weight-loss implants or vaccinations for animals, and owners shouldn't rely on them becoming available. 'Before resorting to these sorts of interventions, owners should seek help from their vet about how to reduce their pet's weight with a good diet and providing lots of opportunities to exercise and play in ways that their pet will enjoy." She added: 'It may be that weight loss jabs or implants may have a role to play in future in very limited circumstances where animals are clinically unwell, but the best thing we can do is set healthy habits from the start so our pets can live the best life possible.'
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Vivani Medical and Okava Expand Collaboration to Develop OKV-119 for Dogs, Targeting Metabolic Health and Longevity
Over half of all dogs in the United States today are overweight or obese, placing them at increased risk for chronic diseases, metabolic decline and shortened lifespans ALAMEDA, Calif. and SAN FRANCISCO, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vivani Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: VANI) ("Vivani" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing miniature, ultra long-acting drug implants, and Okava Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Okava"), a clinical-stage company focused on diseases of aging in dogs and cats, today announced an expansion of their collaboration to include dogs in the development of OKV-119, a long-acting GLP-1 therapy for weight management, diabetes and other cardiometabolic conditions. Vivani and Okava initiated their collaboration in 2019, with a focus on developing OKV-119 for cardiometabolic conditions in cats. OKV-119 leverages Vivani's proprietary NanoPortal™ technology, which provides smooth and steady delivery of therapeutic molecules, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, over extended periods from a single implant. According to Okava, dosing every six months or longer supports a 'One-and-Done' approach between office visits consistent with the product profile of Vivani's NPM-115, an ultra long-acting GLP-1 implant in clinical stage development to improve medication adherence and tolerability for the treatment of chronic weight management in humans. "Caloric restriction, or fasting, is one of the most well-established interventions for extending the lifespan and improving metabolic health in dogs," said Okava CEO Michael Klotsman, PhD, MBA. "But it is also one of the hardest to maintain. OKV-119 mimics many of the physiological effects of fasting—improved insulin sensitivity, reduced fat mass and more efficient energy metabolism—without requiring significant changes in feeding routines or disrupting the human-animal bond that often centers around food." Over half of all dogs in the United States today are overweight or obese, placing them at increased risk for chronic disease, metabolic decline and shortened lifespans. Similar to the changes humans face as they grow older, aging dogs experience declines in metabolic fitness, leading to weight gain, insulin resistance and loss of muscle mass. Research shows that leaner dogs can live more than two years longer than their heavier counterparts. By restoring and maintaining a healthy metabolism through a single, long-acting dose, OKV-119 has the potential to enhance quality of life, promote healthy aging and become the most impactful life-extending therapy available for dogs. "This collaboration aligns with Vivani's broader mission to develop innovative medicines that will revolutionize the treatment of chronic diseases by leveraging proprietary drug delivery technologies," said Vivani CEO Adam Mendelsohn, PhD. "This expanded partnership with Okava reflects our shared confidence in the potential of NanoPortal technology to serve a broad array of prospective beneficiaries in the management of metabolic disease. The structure of this expanded partnership minimizes costs and risks for Vivani while integrating upside potential for Vivani shareholders through future milestone payments and royalties. Together with Okava, we are broadening the reach of our technology, meeting unmet needs in veterinary medicine while positioning Vivani to capture future value within an industry segment experiencing continued and unprecedented growth." Financial terms of the expanded agreement were not disclosed. About Vivani Medical, Inc. Leveraging its proprietary NanoPortal platform, Vivani develops therapeutic implants designed to deliver drug molecules steadily over extended periods of time with the goal of guaranteeing adherence, and potentially to improve patient tolerance to their medication. Vivani's lead programs, NPM-139 (semaglutide implant) and NPM-115 (exenatide implant), are miniature, subdermal GLP-1 implants under development for chronic weight management in obese or overweight individuals designed for once or twice-yearly administration. Vivani's emerging pipeline also includes NPM-119, which refers to the Company's six-month, subdermal, GLP-1 (exenatide implant) under development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Development of a semaglutide implant for the treatment of type 2 diabetes is also under consideration. These NanoPortal implants are designed to provide patients with the opportunity to experience the full potential benefit of their medication by avoiding the challenges associated with the daily or weekly administration of oral and injectable medications. Medication non-adherence occurs when patients do not take their medication as prescribed. This affects an alarming number of patients, approximately 50%, including those taking daily pills. Medication non-adherence, which contributes to more than $500 billion in annual avoidable healthcare costs and 125,000 potentially preventable deaths annually in the U.S. alone, is a primary and daunting reason why obese or overweight patients, and patients taking type 2 diabetes or other chronic disease treatments, face significant challenges in achieving positive real-world effectiveness. While the current GLP-1 landscape includes over 50 new molecular entities under clinical stage development, Vivani remains confident that its highly differentiated portfolio of miniature, ultra long-acting GLP-1 implants have the potential to provide an attractive therapeutic option for patients, prescribers and payers. For more information, please visit: About Okava Pharmaceuticals, Inc. OKAVA is a clinical-stage research and development company that develops new treatment options for dogs and cats suffering from chronic diseases of aging. OKAVA is building a portfolio of products to transform and humanize standards of care in veterinary medicine. By harnessing human technologies for the treatment of common diseases in household pets, the company has the potential of increasing the lifespans of dogs and cats by an average of 1 to 3 years. OKAVA is a private company headquartered in San Francisco, California. For more information, see Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the 'safe harbor' provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: 'target,' 'future,' 'believe,' 'expect,' 'will,' 'may,' 'anticipate,' 'estimate,' 'would,' 'positioned,' and other similar expressions that in this press release, including statements regarding Vivani's business, products in development, including the therapeutic potential thereof, the planned development therefor, the completion of the ongoing clinical trial and reporting of trial results, Vivani's emerging development plans for its products, Vivani's collaboration agreement with Okava, and Vivani's technology, strategy, cash position and financial runway. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on Vivani's current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of Vivani's control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, risks related to the development and commercialization of Vivani's products; delays and changes in the development of Vivani's products, including as a result of applicable laws, regulations and guidelines, potential delays in submitting and receiving regulatory clearance or approval to conduct Vivani's development activities; risks related to the initiation, enrollment and conduct of Vivani's planned clinical trials and the results therefrom; Vivani's history of losses and Vivani's ability to access additional capital or otherwise fund Vivani's business; market conditions and the ability of Cortigent to complete its intended spin-off from the Company. There may be additional risks that the Company considers immaterial, or which are unknown. A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC filed on March 31, 2025, as updated by the Company's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statement made by Vivani in this press release is based only on information currently available to the Company and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of added information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. Vivani Contacts: Company Contact:Donald DwyerChief Business Officerinfo@ 506-8462 Investor Relations Contact:Jami TaylorInvestor Relations Advisorinvestors@ 506-8462 Media Contact:Sean LeousICR 866-4012 Okava Contacts: Investor Relations Contact:Jami TaylorInvestor Relations Advisorpr@ 506-8462
