Health
Zoetis Receives Health Canada Approval for Portela™(relfovetmab injection) to Alleviate Pain Associated with Osteoarthritis in Cats
PARSIPPANY, N.J., December 05, 2025--Zoetis Inc. today announced that Health Canada has approved Portela™ (relfovetmab injection) for the alleviation of pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) in cats. Designed to provide three months of OA pain relief with a single injection, Portela targets anti-nerve growth factor (NGF), which is a key mediator of OA pain and inflammation.
About this update from Zoetis Inc.
PARSIPPANY, N.J., December 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zoetis Inc. today announced that Health Canada has approved Portela™ (relfovetmab injection) for the alleviation of pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) in cats. Designed to provide three months of OA pain relief with a single injection, Portela targets anti-nerve growth factor (NGF), which is a key mediator of OA pain and inflammation. In a nine-month field trial in Europe, Portela demonstrated effectiveness in alleviating OA pain and was found to be well tolerated, including by cats identified with kidney disease at IRIS stage 1, 2 or 31. Portela is also approved in the European Union (EU), and Zoetis anticipates making Portela commercially available in Canada and the EU in 2026. "Health Canada’s approval of Portela marks a significant step forward in managing osteoarthritis-related pain in cats," said Rob Polzer, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and President, Research and Development at Zoetis. "Thanks to Portela’s long-lasting antibody and its unique binding site to NGF, veterinarians and cat owners in Canada now have a new, innovative way to address osteoarthritis pain. This achievement underscores our ongoing dedication to developing new therapies that improve the health and quality of life for companion animals." Osteoarthritis as a Significant Unmet Medical Need OA is a common, chronic and progressive joint disease characterized by the inflammation and breakdown of joints, leading to pain and mobility issues. Although the disease cannot be cured, much can be done to control the associated pain and improve quality of life. Even with up to 40% of all cats having clinical signs of OA2 3, pet owners often overlook these signs, and as a result only 18% of affected cats are diagnosed with OA pain by veterinary professionals4. Identifying and treating OA pain is important because chronic pain has a negative impact on many aspects of a cat’s health. In addition to gait and movement, chronic pain impacts sleep, relationships, and cognition5. Portela now provides a convenient, long-acting therapy to reduce OA pain - particularly beneficial for cats that are difficult to medicate regularly. Building on a Legacy of Innovation Zoetis continues to advance care for animals around the globe with a robust pipeline fueled by lifecycle innovation, geographic expansion and new product innov...