By VETTAPHARMA reporter – Derek Roche: Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Numelvi™ (atinvicitinib tablets) for dogs six months of age and older for the control of pruritus (itching) associated with allergic dermatitis, including atopic dermatitis. This marks the first and only second-generation Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor approved in the United States for this indication.
Numelvi (atinvicitinib) is a once-daily, first-line treatment that significantly reduces itching, helping improve quality of life for affected dogs and their owners by addressing discomfort and sleep disruption caused by allergic skin conditions. The active ingredient is at least 10 times more selective for JAK1 than for JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2 in laboratory assays, a property designed to deliver efficacy while minimizing interference with other immune functions.
The product is expected to be available in veterinary clinics and hospitals across the U.S. in spring 2026, providing veterinarians and pet owners with a new therapeutic option for managing pruritus in dogs as young as six months of age.
