What the study found
Injectable meloxicam remains widely used in feline practice despite being associated with acute kidney injury (AKI, sudden kidney damage). The authors also state that evidence for this association appeared in a clinical trial submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but those data were omitted from the published article.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say the drug's approval process should be questioned, and they highlight the possible influence of pharmaceutical industry sponsorship on veterinary prescribing practices and policy. They also note ethical concerns because the trial and related promotion were financially supported by the manufacturer.
What the researchers tested
This paper is a viewpoint based on a review of a clinical trial submitted in a New Animal Drug Application (NADA) Freedom of Information Summary, along with the published version of that trial in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The authors compare the submitted and published accounts of the trial.
What worked and what didn't
The authors report that the submitted trial data showed evidence of an association between injectable meloxicam and acute kidney injury in cats. They state that these data were omitted from the published version, and they argue that the manufacturer-funded sponsorship and promotion of the drug raise concerns.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe additional study limitations beyond the concerns raised by the authors. The summary is limited to the viewpoint and the trial materials the authors discuss.
Key points
- Injectable meloxicam is described as remaining widely used in cats despite an association with acute kidney injury.
- The authors say evidence of this kidney risk appeared in a clinical trial submitted to the U.S. FDA.
- They state that the published version of the trial omitted those data.
- The paper raises ethical concerns about manufacturer sponsorship of the trial and promotion of the drug.
- The authors question the approval process for injectable meloxicam in cats.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Meloxicam approval in cats is questioned over kidney risk and missing trial data
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-01
- DOI:
- 10.1111/jvp.70060
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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