Zoetis Inc. says Health Canada has approved Portela™ (relfovetmab injection) for alleviating pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) in cats, introducing a therapy designed to provide three months of pain relief with a single injection.

According to the company, Portela targets anti-nerve growth factor (NGF), a key mediator of OA pain and inflammation.

In a nine-month field trial conducted in Europe, Portela showed effectiveness in alleviating OA pain and was well tolerated, including among cats identified with kidney disease at certain IRIS stages.

Portela is also approved in the European Union, and Zoetis anticipates making the product 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, PhD, 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,” said Polzer.

Zoetis describes OA as a common, chronic and progressive joint disease characterized by inflammation and the breakdown of joints, leading to pain and mobility issues.

While OA cannot be cured, the company says its associated pain can be controlled to improve quality of life. Zoetis cites data indicating up to 40 per cent of cats show clinical signs of OA, but only 18 per cent of affected cats are diagnosed with OA pain by veterinary professionals.

The company notes chronic pain can affect gait and movement as well as sleep, relationships, and cognition, and positions Portela as a convenient, long‑acting option for cats that are difficult to medicate regularly.

Portela joins Solensia® (frunevetmab injection) in Zoetis’s portfolio of OA pain products for cats. Like Solensia, Portela is a monoclonal antibody that targets NGF; however, Zoetis says Portela is designed to alleviate OA‑associated pain for a longer period by binding to a different site on NGF.

“Portela is a new therapy designed to support long‑term comfort and mobility for cats—with the added benefit that pet owners only need to bring their cats in for an injection once every three months,” said Richard Goldstein, DVM, DACVIM, DECVIM‑CA, global chief medical officer and head of medical affairs at Zoetis.