[Oclacitinib in dogs - Janus kinase inhibition in veterinary dermatology]

Abstract

Oclacitinib (Apoquel, Zoetis) is currently the only Janus kinase inhibitor approved for veterinary medicine in the EU. The drug is approved for treatment of atopic dermatitis and associated pruritus in dogs. For this purpose, it has been used safely and successfully for over 10 years. Furthermore, a number of case reports have already been published which report successful off-label use of oclacitinib, particularly in T-cell mediated diseases, after approved drugs were ineffective. Oclacitinib is only approved for dogs. Its use in cats is not recommended as there is insufficient data from clinical trials. However, it is known that cats require a higher dosage and that the drug has less therapeutic safety than in dogs. This review article summarizes studies on the use of oclacitinib in dogs with atopic dermatitis and provides an outlook on its administration in cats. An overview of the successful use of oclacitinib in other immune-mediated diseases is presented.