Solensia 7 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cats

Frunevetmab

Last verified

Veterinary medicinal product: solution for injection. Distribution category: POM-V (Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3). Active substance: Frunevetmab.1

In short: questions and answers

Does Solensia 7 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cats need a prescription?
Prescription only. As stated in the registration decision.1
Which animals is Solensia 7 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cats for?
Cats.1
What is the active substance in Solensia 7 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cats?
Frunevetmab. ATCvet code: QN02BG90.13
What is the withdrawal period of Solensia 7 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cats according to the leaflet?
No withdrawal period is set for this drug: it is not intended for food-producing animals.3
Dispensing
Prescription only1

POM-V: Prescription Only Medicine - Veterinarian. Supplied only on a prescription written by a veterinary surgeon who has assessed the animal.12

Supplied only on a veterinarian's prescription. As stated in the registration decision.

Animal species
Cats1
Active substance
Frunevetmab
ATCvet code
QN02BG903
Manufacturer
Marketing authorisation holder: Zoetis UK Limited

Withdrawal period

No withdrawal period is set for this drug: it is not intended for food-producing animals.3

Summary of product characteristics

Composition

Each vial of 1 ml contains:

Active substances:

Frunevetmab* 7 mg

* Frunevetmab is a felinised monoclonal antibody (mAb) expressed through recombinant techniques in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

6.1 List of excipients

Histidine hydrochloride monohydrate

D-sorbitol

Polysorbate 20

Water for injections

Hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment)

Sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment)

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Pharmaceutical form

Solution for injection.

The product should appear clear to slightly opalescent.

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Pharmacological properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Other analgesics and antipyretics.

ATCvet code: QN02BG90.

Mechanism of action

Frunevetmab is a felinised monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). The inhibition of NGF mediated cell signalling has been demonstrated to provide relief from pain associated with osteoarthritis.

Onset of effect

Frunevetmab was demonstrated to provide analgesic effect within 6 days in an acute inflammatory pain laboratory model.

Pharmacokinetics

In a 6-month laboratory study of healthy, adult cats administered frunevetmab every 28 days at doses ranging from 2.8-14 mg/kg, AUC and Cmax increased slightly less than in proportion to dose. In a laboratory pharmacokinetic study at 3.0 mg/kg bw in cats diagnosed with osteoarthritis, peak plasma drug levels were observed at 3-7 days (tmax = 6.2 days) after subcutaneous dosing, the bioavailability was approximately 60% and the elimination half-life was approximately 10 days.

In a field effectiveness study at the label dose in cats with osteoarthritis, steady-state was achieved after 2 doses.

Frunevetmab, like endogenous proteins, is expected to be degraded into small peptides and amino acids via normal catabolic pathways. Frunevetmab is not metabolised by cytochrome P450 enzymes; therefore, interactions with concomitant medications that are substrates, inducers, or inhibitors of cytochrome P450 enzymes are unlikely.

Field trials

In clinical trials up to 3 months, treatment of cats with osteoarthritis was demonstrated to have a favourable effect on the reduction of pain assessed by CSOM (Client-Specific Outcome Measures). CSOM is an assessment of an individual cat’s response to pain treatment, as assessed by performance of physical activities, sociability and quality of life. The maximum total CSOM score was 15. A total of 182 animals were enrolled in the frunevetmab treatment group and 93 animals included in the placebo group, in the pivotal field trial. Treatment success, defined as a reduction of ≥2 in the total CSOM score and no increase in any individual score, was achieved in 66.70%, 75.91% and 76.47% of the frunevetmab-treated cats and in 52.06%, 64.65% and 68.09% of placebo-treated cats after one, two and three monthly treatments, respectively. Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) compared to placebo-treatment was demonstrated after the first and second treatment, but not after the third treatment.

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Target species

Cats

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Indications

For the alleviation of pain associated with osteoarthritis in cats.

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Dosage

Subcutaneous use.

Avoid excessive shaking or foaming of the solution. Administer the entire content (1 ml) of the vial.

Dosage and treatment schedule:

The recommended dose is 1-2.8 mg/kg bodyweight, once a month.

Dose according to the dosing chart below.

Bodyweight (kg) of catSolensia (7 mg/ml) volume to be administered
2.5 - 7.01 vial
7.1 - 14.02 vials

For cats greater than 7 kg, withdraw the full contents of two vials into the same syringe and administer as a single dose.

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Contraindications

Do not use in animals under 12 months and/or under 2.5 kg body weight.

Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.

Do not use in animals intended for breeding.

Do not use in pregnant or lactating animals.

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Adverse reactions

Cats:

Common (1 to 10 animals / 100 animals treated): Alopecia, Dermatitis, Pruritus

Rare (1 to 10 animals / 10 000 animals treated): Injection site reaction (e.g. pain and alopecia)1 Skin disorders (e.g. skin scab, skin sore)

Very rare (<1 animal / 10 000 animals treated, including isolated reports): Anaphylaxis2 Ataxia Polyuria Polydipsia

1 Mild.

2 In case of such reactions, appropriate symptomatic treatment should be administered.

Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to either the marketing authorisation holder or the national competent authority via the national reporting system. See also the last section of the package leaflet for respective contact details.

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Warnings

i) Special precautions for use in animals

The safety and efficacy of this product has not been investigated in cats with kidney disease IRIS stages 3 and 4. Use of the product in such cases should be based on a benefit-risk assessment performed by the responsible veterinarian.

ii) Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals

Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, could potentially occur in the case of accidental self-injection. Repeated accidental self-administration may increase the risk of hypersensitivity reactions.

The importance of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in ensuring normal foetal nervous system development is well-established and laboratory studies conducted on non-human primates with human anti-NGF antibodies have shown evidence of reproductive and developmental toxicity. Pregnant women, women trying to conceive, and breastfeeding women should take extreme care to avoid accidental self-injection.

In case of accidental self-injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.

iii) Other precautions

Not applicable.

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Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established during pregnancy and lactation or in breeding cats. Laboratory studies with human anti-NGF antibodies in cynomolgus monkeys have shown evidence of teratogenic and foetotoxic effects.

Pregnancy and lactation:

Do not use in pregnant or lactating animals.

Fertility:

Do not use in breeding animals.

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Interactions

None known.

There are no safety data on the concurrent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and frunevetmab in the cat. In clinical trials in humans, rapidly progressive osteoarthritis has been reported in patients receiving humanised anti-Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) monoclonal antibody therapy. The incidence of these events increased with high doses and in those human patients that received long-term (more than 90 days) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) concomitantly with an anti-NGF monoclonal antibody. Cats have no reported equivalent of human rapidly progressive osteoarthritis.

If a vaccine is to be administered at the same time as treatment with frunevetmab, the vaccine should be administered at a different site to that of frunevetmab administration to reduce any potential recruitment of immunogenicity (formation of anti-drug antibodies) to the mAb.

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Overdose

No adverse reactions were observed in laboratory overdose studies when the veterinary medicinal product was administered for 6 consecutive monthly doses at 5 times the maximum recommended dose.

In case of adverse clinical signs after an overdose the cat should be treated symptomatically.

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Special warnings

Continuation of treatment should be based on the individual response of each animal. If a positive response is not observed, consider alternative treatments.

This veterinary medicinal product may induce transient or persistent anti-drug antibodies. The induction of such antibodies may reduce the efficacy of the product although this was not observed during the 84 days of the pivotal clinical trial. No information is available for longer duration treatment.

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Withdrawal period

Not applicable.

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Incompatibilities

Do not mix with any other veterinary medicinal product.

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Immediate packaging

Clear glass Type I vials with bromobutyl rubber stoppers and aluminium overseals.

Pack sizes:

Cardboard box with 1, 2 or 6 vials.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

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Storage

Store in a refrigerator (2 °C – 8 °C).

Do not freeze.

Store in the original package.

Protect from light.

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Shelf life

Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 2 years.

Shelf life after first opening the immediate packaging: use immediately.

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Disposal of unused product

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste.

Any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived from such veterinary medicinal products should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

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Additional information

Vm 42058/5004

9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

17 February 2021

10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

August 2026

11 CLASSIFICATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS

Veterinary medicinal product subject to prescription.

Find more product information by searching for the ‘Product Information Database’ on www.gov.uk.

Gavin Hall Approved: 07 September 2026

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Registration holder

Zoetis UK Limited

1st Floor, Birchwood Building

Springfield Drive

Leatherhead

Surrey

KT22 7LP

United Kingdom

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Regulations

Sources

  1. VMD Product Information Database: Solensia 7 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cats, 42058/5004 UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (OGL v3.0), checked 2026-10-04 archived copy from 2026-10-04
  2. The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3 (categories of veterinary medicinal products) UK Government, legislation.gov.uk, checked 2026-10-04 archived copy from 2026-10-04
  3. Summary of Product Characteristics: Solensia 7 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cats UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate, SPC of the marketing authorisation holder, checked 2026-10-04 archived copy from 2026-10-04