Panoquell CA1, the first drug conditionally approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat acute-onset canine pancreatitis, is available in the United States.
Ceva Animal Health will market and distribute the intravenous drug, which was developed by Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha and registered by ISK Animal Health.
The active ingredient, fuzapladib sodium, is a leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) activation inhibitor. It plays a crucial role in extravasation, mobilizing leukocytes from the bloodstream to the tissues.
In the pilot field study conducted for conditional FDA approval, dogs receiving fuzapladib sodium demonstrated improved clinical scores, based on the Modified Canine Activity Index, compared with those receiving only symptomatic care.
LFA-1’s action mechanism in acute pancreatitis involves:
- Neutrophilic infiltration: Neutrophil infiltration is a hallmark of acute canine pancreatitis. LFA-1 is expressed on the neutrophil surface and its ligand ICAM-1 on the vascular endothelium. Together, they mediate neutrophil-driven migration into pancreatic and extrapancreatic tissues.
- Arresting circulating neutrophils: LFA-1 activation by chemokines and ICAM-1 upregulation arrests circulating neutrophils at the inflammation site, causing the neutrophils to stick to the blood vessel wall and invade the tissues.
- Inflammatory mediators: Neutrophils in the tissue release additional inflammatory mediators that attract more neutrophils and other inflammatory cells.
Panoquell CA1 inhibits neutrophilic infiltration in the pancreas during acute canine pancreatitis, reducing pancreatic inflammation and supporting a faster recovery.
“Fuzapladib sodium has been approved for acute canine pancreatitis in Japan since 2018, and based on our experience in Japan, we believe Panoquell CA1 will be an important addition to acute canine pancreatitis management in the U.S.,” said Yuya Noshiro, the director of ISK Animal Health’s planning and administration division.