By Emma Spencer, Science & Technology Reporter

A San Francisco biopharmaceutical company is taking the weight-loss drug boom in an unexpected direction, launching a clinical trial that uses a miniature GLP-1 implant to help overweight housecats slim down.

Okava Pharmaceuticals announced the new study—called MEOW-1—this week, describing it as the first known attempt to use long-acting GLP-1 medication in household pets. According to the company, the implant (known as OKV-119) delivers a steady dose of GLP-1 for up to six months. Okava plans to enroll 50 cats for the initial trial, with weight and behavior tracked throughout the study.

More than half of domestic cats in the United States are considered overweight or obese, the company notes. Okava says the goal is to offer veterinarians a new tool for weight management—one it claims could lead to longer lifespans, lower diabetes risk, reduced joint pain, and even fewer instances of begging or “food-motivated behavior.”

Unlike the human drugs Ozempic or Mounjaro, Okava’s implant uses exenatide, a different GLP-1 compound. If successful, the company hopes to seek FDA approval between 2027 and 2028. Pet owners could expect to pay around $100 per month once the product is on the market. Okava also says it intends to begin similar studies in dogs next.

The company argues the implant could provide a more consistent alternative to diet plans and exercise routines, which many pet owners struggle to maintain. According to Okava, early safety data shows the method is well-tolerated in animals, with the most noticeable change being reduced appetite.

Whether Californians embrace the idea of pharmaceutical weight-loss for pets remains to be seen. But as GLP-1 medications continue reshaping human health trends, it appears the veterinary world isn’t far behind.