Pet health innovator Elanco Animal Health has announced the UK launch of a new treatment to manage feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) anaemia.

Following recent regulatory approval, Varenzin is now available to veterinarians across the UK, and offers pet owners a first-of-its-kind oral suspension that can be administered daily at home.

Built on Nobel Prize-winning science, Varenzin is a veterinary medicine in a new class designed to stimulate a cat’s natural endogenous erythropoietin production (EPO), which is often reduced in cats with kidney disease. The active substance in Varenzin, molidustat, belongs to a novel class of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Prolyl Hydroxylase (HIF-PH) inhibitors, and works by activating the body’s natural response to low oxygen levels, boosting EPO production and thereby stimulating red blood cell production by the bone marrow.

“HIF-PH inhibitors enhance the natural production of EPO rather than delivering a pharmacological dose of an exogenous protein,” said Professor Jonathan Elliott, MA VetMB PhD CertSAC DipECVPT FRCVS, Professor in Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology at the Royal Veterinary College in London.

“This approach is likely more physiological, helping the body restore a normal balance in red blood cell production and resulting in fewer side effects compared to administering EPO analogues. It’s quite an exciting innovation to have, and it’s great that there is now an authorised veterinary product available containing a HIF-PH inhibitor which is approved to treat cats with CKD.”

In clinical studies, 68% of cats achieved treatment success after one month. Varenzin is also a once-daily fish oil flavoured formulation, with a strong acceptance rate of 88%, supporting ease of administration and long-term compliance.  

Jacqui Skelly, Elanco’s Head of Veterinary Technical Services, UK & Ireland, comments: “Anaemia is a well-recognised and clinically significant complication of chronic kidney disease in cats, particularly as they age, and can impact quality of life and disease progression. The launch of Varenzin provides veterinarians and pet owners with a new option to help manage this condition earlier and more conveniently at home.

"Innovations in veterinary medicine like this are increasingly important in supporting quality of life and improving long-term outcomes, especially as pet ownership increases – the UK cat population is now estimated at 10.2 million – and cats live longer.”

CKD is one of the most common conditions affecting older cats, with prevalence increasing significantly with age. As more cats live longer in the UK, managing chronic conditions such as CKD and its complications, including anaemia, is an increasing challenge for veterinarians and pet owners.

Even small declines in haematocrit or packed cell volume (PCV) are associated with reduced survival and faster CKD progression in cats, highlighting the importance of early detection and intervention. With Varenzin, veterinarians now have the ability to begin managing anaemia as soon as a diagnosis is made. 

The launch of Elanco’s newest product, Varenzin, is another milestone in its mission to elevate pet health every day. It reinforces its commitment to supporting veterinarians in improving outcomes for pets, and helping cats live longer, healthier lives.

For more information, please visit: https://my.elanco.com/us/campaign/varenzin