Zoetis receives USDA license for Cytopoint

Photo courtesy of ZoetisZoetis recently announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted the company a license for Cytopoint, the first monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy approved to help provide sustained control of the clinical signs associated with atopic dermatitis in dogs. According to a recent release from Zoetis, Cytopoint targets and neutralizes interleukin-31 (IL-31), a key protein involved in triggering itch in dogs.

Cytopoint provides fast relief of itching-the hallmark sign of atopic dermatitis in dogs-and offers the sustained efficacy and convenience of one injection every four to eight weeks, the release states.

“Cytopoint results from our acquiring a deeper scientific understanding of the causes of allergic skin conditions in dogs at the molecular level and developing novel, targeted, effective treatments based on these new insights,” says Catherine Knupp, DVM, MS, executive vice president at Zoetis, in the release.

Cytopoint helps improve the long-term quality of life for dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis and eases the related frustration and concern of their owners, the release states. It is now available to all veterinarians in the United States.

“As the owner of allergic pets, I understand the frustration that my clients feel, and as a person with allergies myself, I understand what my patients feel,” says Laura Stokking, DVM, PhD, DACVD, in the release. “With Cytopoint, in a single injection we now have an excellent opportunity to help control the itch without leading to any secondary signs that can be more difficult to manage than the itch itself.”