Weight-loss drugs for Chinese cats

Pets are now the nation's "babies."

Read in browser

Hi it's Karoline in Singapore. People obsess over feeding their pets. As a result, their spoiled furry babies can become overweight. A Chinese company is proposing a remedy, but before I tell you more ... Today's must-reads AI helps spot breast cancer earlier, a Swedish study shows. The UK warns that GLP-1 drugs have been linked to pancreatitis. Opinion: Brain chips could be used to mine behavioral data. Fat cats Chinese families are having fewer babies, but they own more pets. Goldman Sachs predicts that pets will outnumber toddlers in the country by almost 2 to 1 by 2030. China's pet economy, spanning everything from clothing to "kindergartens," is on track to increase almost 40% by 2030, to 352 billion yuan ($50 billion).  Pet obesity is already widespread. According to a 2024 survey, up to 30% of pet dogs and cats in China are overweight or obese. In late December, Huadong Medicine announced that Chinese authorities have accepted its marketing application for a GIP/GLP-1 drug for obese cats. Once approved, the weekly injectable treatment would help manage feline body weight by reducing the appetite and improving metabolism.  The company said clinical study results showed that tested cats' lost almost 10% of their weight on average after taking the dual-acting drug for six weeks. It also said cats in the trial showed no adverse reactions, and that the drug is "safe, effective and convenient." Huadong told Chinese local media that it has similar drugs for dogs in development.  Huadong Medicine isn't the first drugmaker to tackle pet obesity. Back in 2007, Pfizer got FDA approval for Slentrol, the first prescription weight-loss drug for dogs. But the drug was discontinued due to side effects like vomiting and diarrhea and limited demand. And Okava Pharmaceuticals, a San Francisco-based company, is developing an implant to deliver GLP-1 drugs in obese cats. In December, it announced that the first cat had received a dose. On Chinese social media, many people have expressed interest in the drug for their cats, but many are also worried about side effects, saying they will never let their pets be the first drug testers. Others wondered about the price.   "Pets drugs can be costly," said one user on Weibo. "Many are even more expensive than drugs for humans." — Karoline Kan What we're reading Soccer has a sleeping pill problem, the Athletic reports. Volunteering can help you live longer, the Washington Post reports. Does eating protein make you feel more full? The New York Times digs into the evidence. Contact Prognosis Health questions? Have a tip that we should investigate? Contact us at AskPrognosis@bloomberg.net. Follow us You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Prognosis newsletter. If a friend forwarded you this message, sign up here to get it in your inbox. Unsubscribe Bloomberg.com Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022 |