Zoetis UK receives approval for Portela long-acting treatment for feline osteoarthritis pain

Zoetis UK receives approval for Portela, a novel long-acting monoclonal antibody injection that offers up to three months of pain relief for cats with osteoarthritis, potentially transforming chronic pain management.

Zoetis UK has won approval from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for Portela, its relfovetmab injection for the relief of osteoarthritis pain in cats, adding a new option to a market where feline chronic pain is often difficult to manage.

The company says Portela is the first long-acting anti-nerve growth factor monoclonal antibody therapy for cats, with a single subcutaneous dose intended to provide up to three months of pain relief. Zoetis has cited a nine-month European field study in which improvements were seen as early as day three after the first injection, while clinical trials found the treatment to be well tolerated and effective in reducing osteoarthritis pain.

Julia von Gablenz, Zoetis’ regional president for Europe and the Middle East, said cat owners face practical barriers in treating chronic pain, including the difficulty of giving oral medicines and the stress associated with repeated veterinary visits.

The approval in Britain follows wider regulatory momentum for the product. Zoetis has already secured marketing clearance in the European Union and Health Canada, while its related feline osteoarthritis therapy Solensia, a monthly anti-NGF monoclonal antibody, remains authorised in the US. For practices, Portela may reduce treatment friction by lowering the frequency of visits and easing adherence in a species that commonly resists handling.