OKV-119 — The Drug, The Implant, The Trial

OKV-119 is the experimental veterinary product candidate Okava Pharmaceuticals is testing in cats — a small biodegradable implant placed under the skin during a routine vet visit, designed to release exenatide (a GLP-1 receptor agonist) at a controlled rate over approximately six months. It is the active drug substance in the MEOW-1 trial — Management of Excess Overweight cats With OKV-119 — currently running with at least 50 cats and reporting summer 2026.

What Is the Active Ingredient?

Exenatide. First isolated from the saliva of the Gila monster lizard and FDA-approved for human Type 2 diabetes in 2005 as Byetta (twice-daily injection) and later as Bydureon (extended-release weekly injection). Exenatide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist — it mimics the GLP-1 hormone the gut releases after eating, promoting insulin secretion, slowing gastric emptying, and signaling satiety to the brain.

Exenatide is not the same as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound). All three are GLP-1 receptor agonists, but with different molecular structures, half-lives, and clinical profiles. Exenatide is older, has a shorter half-life, and works less potently on weight loss than the newer agents in humans. Whether this translates to lower efficacy in cats depends on receptor density, dosing achieved by the implant, and feline-specific pharmacokinetics.

Why an Implant?

Three reasons Okava chose the implant route over weekly injections (Akston's competing approach):

1. Cat compliance. Weekly subcutaneous injections in cats face severe owner-compliance friction. Many owners can't reliably inject weekly for 6+ months. An implant placed once and forgotten removes the daily ritual.
2. Steady-state pharmacokinetics. Continuous low-dose release avoids the peak-trough cycling of weekly injections, which may improve tolerability — especially relevant for nausea/vomiting, the most common GLP-1 side effect.
3. Vet billing model. An implant procedure is more billable than a pill bottle and creates a recurring twice-yearly vet visit cycle, supporting the veterinary economic model.

Trial Status

OKV-119 entered the MEOW-1 trial in December 2025 — the world's first formal clinical trial of a pet-specific GLP-1 receptor agonist. Trial details:

• •Cats enrolled: At least 50, two-thirds active arm, one-third control.
• •Primary observation: 3 months, optional 3-month extension.
• •Expected readout: Summer 2026.
• •FDA submission: Targeted 2027-2028 if successful.
• •Estimated retail price: ~$100/month-equivalent ($600 per 6-month implant).

How OKV-119 Compares to AKS-562c

Okava's OKV-119 and Akston's AKS-562c are the two cat GLP-1 candidates currently in trials. Different molecules, different delivery formats, different companies. See the GLP-1 for cats page for the full side-by-side.