What is Librela?
Librela (bedinvetmab) is a monthly injectible medication approved by the FDA in May 2023 for treatment of pain associated with arthritis in dogs. This drug is a monoclonal antibody which works by blocking a protein called nerve growth factor. Librela is a promising option for dogs who are unable to tolerate oral pain medications (i.e. due to kidney disease, liver disease, or gastrointestinal sensitivity to oral drugs) or for dogs who have debilitating pain or loss of function even with available drugs.
Initial findings indicated Librela was relatively safe to use (as with any new drug), however, our practice recognizes the importance of staying up to date with any safety concerns - as that is always our top priority for our patients.
What are the key takeaways from the FDA updated report?
The FDA published a report in September 2024 with an update on adverse effects reported from the time Librela was approved for use in May of 2024:
**Of the side effects, the most commonly reported were ataxia (unsteadiness of the hind legs), lethargy, and anorexia (loss of appetite). The report also paid special attention to signs which have recently been reported in the media, i.e. ataxia, muscle weakness or tremors, urinary incontinence, collapse, and death. The cases reported for death were presumed to be as a direct result of negative impacts associated with the drug (i.e. anorexia, neurologic concerns) and includes euthanasias. The majority of adverse effects occurred within the first week of injection and after the first injection.
There was enough evidence from these cases to link Librela to these adverse effects in these particular cases.
A majority (73%) of cases reported were dogs older than 10, as this is the age group most commonly treated for arthritis. Therefore, there is a higher likelihood for this case group to have underlying degenerative neurologic conditions which predispose them to these adverse effects.
Are there any other reports?
**While other potential adverse effects were mentioned in the report, there was not enough evidence to establish firmly that Librela was the cause for them (i.e. pancreatitis and certain auto-immune conditions).
In humans, there have been cases reported for rapidly progressive osteoarthritis with subsequent osteolysis (destruction of bone tissue) at the joints. **This has been reported in a few cases for dogs after Librela anecdotally, but were not included in this report, and current studies have not found a significant correlation with Librela and similar cases in dogs.
Is Librela still an option?
We take these updates very seriously and recognize that Librela may not be the right option for all dogs. That being said, Librela can still be a very valuable tool for dogs with limited other options and whose quality of life stands to benefit from monthly injections. Our goal, as always, is to maintain a strong partnership with our clients to provide the highest standard of care for our patients. We therefore encourage anyone interested in Librela (or already using Librela), with any questions/concerns about future use, to contact our team so we can set up an appointment to discuss this further.
The Drake Center for Veterinary Care is an AAHA-accredited animal hospital located in Encinitas, CA. The Drake Center loves being a source of information for all pet owners across the country however if you have any questions regarding pet care and do not live in Encinitas, CA or surrounding cities, we encourage you to contact your local veterinarian.
If you have questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (760) 452-3190, or you can email us at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram.