Frunevetmab, a felinized anti-nerve growth factor monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of pain from osteoarthritis in cats

  • J Vet Intern Med. 2021 Nov;35(6):2752-2762. doi: 10.1111/jvim.16291.
Margaret E Gruen  1  2  3 ,  Jamie A E Myers  4 ,  Jezaniah-Kira S Tena  4 ,  Csilla Becskei  5 ,  Dawn M Cleaver  4 ,  B Duncan X Lascelles  1  3  6  7
Affiliations
  • 1. Translational Research in Pain (TRiP) Program, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
  • 2. Behavioral Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
  • 3. Comparative Pain Research and Education Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
  • 4. Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Zoetis Inc, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA.
  • 5. Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Zoetis Belgium SA, Zaventem, Belgium.
  • 6. Thurston Arthritis Center, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
  • 7. Center for Translational Pain Research, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
PMID: 34724255 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16291
Abstract

Background: Frunevetmab, a felinized antinerve growth factor monoclonal antibody, effectively decreases osteoarthritis (OA) pain in cats.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of frunevetmab given at monthly intervals in a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, double-blind superiority study.

Animals: Two hundred seventy-five client-owned cats with naturally-occurring OA pain and associated mobility impairment and disability.

Methods: Randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, double-blind, superiority study. Following screening, cats received frunevetmab (nominal dose of 1.0 mg/kg, SC [effective dose range of 1.0-2.8 mg/kg]) or placebo on days 0, 28, and 56. Outcome measures were owner questionnaires and veterinary physical and orthopedic evaluations at days 28, 56, and 84. Success/failure rates (and numbers needed treat, NNT) and change in scores (and standardized effect size, ES) were analyzed.

Results: Frunevetmab (182) and placebo (93) treated cats were enrolled and received at least 1 treatment. Significant improvement with frunevetmab over placebo occurred at days 28 and 56 for the client specific outcome measures (CSOM) questionnaire (success rates and total scores [NNT of 9 and ES of 0.3 at day 56]); at days 28 and 56 for owner-assessed global treatment response; and at days 56 and 84 for veterinarian-assessed joint pain (ES of 0.18 at day 56). Adverse events did not differ between groups, except skin disorders which collectively occurred significantly more frequently in frunevetmab treated (32/182 cats) vs placebo (8/93 cats).

Conclusions and clinical importance: Frunevetmab has the potential to address a critical gap in the treatment of pain because of osteoarthritis in cats.

Keywords
CSOM; FMPI; arthritis; client specific outcome measures; degenerative joint disease; feline; feline musculoskeletal pain index.
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