Solensia (frunevetmab) is not an anti-inflammatory in the traditional sense, as it is not a steroid or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). However, its action as a monoclonal antibody (mAb) does have some anti-inflammatory effect.
The target of frunevetmab for treating feline osteoarthritis (OA) is felinized nerve-growth factor (NGF). In adult cats, NGF is not only involved with the body’s perception of pain and noxious stimuli, but it also assists in the release and perpetuation of certain inflammatory mediators that further inflammation in the body. When frunevetmab as a monoclonal antibody binds to NGF, it not only reduces the sensation of cat OA pain but also interferes with the continuation of inflammation that NGF contributes to.