Fuzapladib: New Acute Pancreatitis Drug for Dogs Now Available for Veterinary Use

Jim Budde, PharmD, RPh, DICVP, Plumb's Veterinary Drugs

ArticleLast Updated April 20232 min read
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 Full drug details and pet owner handout can be found at Plumb’s.

A new treatment option is now available for veterinarians managing acute pancreatitis in dogs. Fuzapladib has been conditionally approved by the FDA (deemed safe with a “reasonable expectation of effectiveness”) for the control of clinical signs in dogs with acute pancreatitis. 

Pharmacology of Fuzapladib

Fuzapladib works by limiting neutrophil-mediated inflammatory responses in dogs with acute pancreatitis. It is additionally thought to reduce pancreatic lesion size as well as extra-pancreatic organ involvement.

Contraindications of Fuzapladib

Fuzapladib is contraindicated and should not be used in dogs that are hypersensitive to it. This drug has not yet been studied in dogs with cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease; in dogs less than 6 months of age; or in dogs that are pregnant, lactating, or intended for breeding. 

Side Effects of Fuzapladib

Known adverse effects that were observed in fuzapladib’s field trial include:

  • GI effects (eg, anorexia, diarrhea, hypersalivation)

  • Hepatopathy/jaundice

  • Respiratory tract disorders (eg, pneumonia, tachypnea, dyspnea)

  • Cardiac effects (eg, arrhythmia, hypertension, cardiac arrest)

  • Hyperthermia

  • Pruritus 

  • Cerebral edema 

Additional Information & Dosing Instructions

Any use of fuzapladib outside of the conditionally approved indication of controlling clinical signs in dogs with acute pancreatitis is considered extra label. The FDA does not permit extra-label use of conditionally approved drugs.

A comprehensive look at how to manage pancreatitis in dogs treated with fuzapladib is offered by the experts at Plumb’s —the complete drug information and pet owner handout can be accessed here.