FDA approves new vial size for Nocita

Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine has approved an additional vial size (10 mL) for Nocita (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension).

The analgesic is provided as a single-dose infiltration into the surgical site to provide local pain relief following cranial cruciate ligament surgery in dogs and as a peripheral nerve block to provide regional analgesia following onychectomy in cats. Nocita is currently available in a 20-mL vial.

“Since its launch in 2016, Nocita has drastically changed veterinary multimodal pain management protocols because it safely and effectively controls pain in patients for up to 72 hours following certain canine and feline surgeries,” said Ernst Heinen, DVM, PhD, Aratana's chief development officer, in a company press release. “Ultimately, we believe a smaller vial size may allow for expanded use and improve the level of care veterinarians provide for certain painful surgeries.”

Aratana anticipates commercial availability of the 10 mL-vial by fall 2019. For more information, visit nocita.aratana.com.