Zoetis launches long-acting feline osteoarthritis treatment in EU and Canada

Zoetis introduces Portela, a new monoclonal antibody therapy offering up to three months of pain relief for cats with osteoarthritis, expanding its presence in companion-animal treatments across Europe and Canada in 2026.

Zoetis has launched Portela, a long-acting monoclonal antibody treatment for feline osteoarthritis pain, in Canada and across the European Union, marking a notable extension of its companion-animal franchise. The company said the therapy can provide up to three months of relief from a single subcutaneous injection.

According to Zoetis, Portela, known scientifically as relfovetmab, targets nerve growth factor, a pathway implicated in osteoarthritis pain. The drug won European Commission marketing authorisation in October 2025 and Health Canada approval in December 2025, after earlier receiving a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s veterinary medicines committee. Zoetis said commercial availability would follow in 2026.

The company says clinical trials showed the treatment was effective and well tolerated, including in cats with kidney disease at different stages, a point that may matter for older animals, where pain management options can be limited.

The launch strengthens Zoetis’s position in companion animals, which account for the bulk of its revenue. GuruFocus estimates the company’s market value at about $31.6 billion and gives it a GF Score of 76 out of 100, with profitability and growth standing out. Zoetis also has an earnings update due on 6 August.