Field Study
Eighty-four cats with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus were enrolled in a 180-day multicenter field effectiveness and safety study. Safety data were evaluated in 84 cats treated with at least one dose of Bexacat. All cats received one tablet, once daily, regardless of body weight or blood glucose level. Seventy-two of the 84 enrolled cats completed the study. The most common adverse reactions included elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN), vomiting, elevated urine specific gravity (USG), elevated serum fPL, diarrhea, anorexia, lethargy, and dehydration. The adverse reactions seen during the field study are summarized in Table 1 below.
Table 1. Adverse Reactions (n=84)* Most cats had elevations < 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN). † Elevations were predominantly attributable to dehydration and/or glucosuria. ‡ Most cats had one or more isolated elevations, followed by a return to previous values. § Of nine cats with elevations ≥ 1.5X ULN, 2 cats developed diabetic ketoacidosis and were transitioned to insulin. One cat developed diabetic ketoacidosis and hepatic lipidosis resulting in death (euthanasia). One cat developed anemia, progressive weight loss and fPL elevations resulting in death. ** Observations included hiding, agitation, aggression, vocalization, and anxious behavior. |
Adverse Reaction | Number (%) |
Elevated BUN* | 46 (54.8) |
Vomiting | 42 (50.0) |
Elevated USG† | 33 (39.3) |
Elevated fPL‡ | 33 (39.3) |
Diarrhea | 32 (38.1) |
Anorexia | 31 (37.0) |
Lethargy | 17 (20.2) |
Dehydration | 16 (19.0) |
Elevated symmetrical dimethylarginine (SDMA) | 13 (15.5) |
Weight loss | 13 (15.5) |
Urinary tract infection | 12 (14.3) |
Elevated ALT and/or AST§ | 11 (13.1) |
Hypercalcemia | 8 (9.5) |
Behavioral changes** | 6 (7.1) |
Proteinuria | 5 (6.0) |
Elevated creatinine | 4 (4.8) |
Elevated creatine kinase | 4 (4.8) |
Inappropriate urination | 4 (4.8) |
Death | 3 (3.6) |
Diabetic ketoacidosis | 3 (3.6) |
Pancreatitis | 3 (3.6) |
Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis | 2 (2.4) |
Hepatic lipidosis | 2 (2.4) |
Elevated alkaline phosphatase | 2 (2.4) |
Elevated total bilirubin | 2 (2.4) |
Constipation | 2 (2.4) |
Nine serious adverse reactions associated with Bexacat administration occurred during the study, including three cats who died or were euthanized. Of the three cats who died or were euthanized, two cats became clinically ill within 5 doses of Bexacat administration (range 3 to 5 doses). One cat with euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis and hepatic lipidosis was euthanized due to further deterioration of its clinical condition, despite supportive treatment. One cat demonstrating anorexia, lethargy, dehydration, azotemia, and hypokalemia was euthanized without supportive treatment. One cat, who demonstrated a lack of effectiveness, anemia and hepatic lipidosis died on Day 77 despite supportive treatment and additional diagnostics. Six of the nine cats had serious adverse reactions that did not result in death or euthanasia. Five cats were treated for their clinical conditions and transitioned to insulin. Serious adverse reactions in these cats were associated with the following conditions (number of cats): euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (1); lack of effectiveness, diabetic ketoacidosis, elevated liver parameters (1); diabetic ketoacidosis (1); diabetic ketoacidosis and pyelonephritis (1); and lack of effectiveness, weight loss, dehydration (1). One cat with constipation and pancreatitis received supportive treatment and remained on Bexacat (bexagliflozin tablets).
Pilot Field Study
Eighty-nine cats with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus were enrolled in a 56-day multicenter pilot field effectiveness and safety study, with continued use for up to 180 days. All cats received one tablet, once daily, regardless of body weight or blood glucose level. Safety data were evaluated for all 89 cats treated with at least one dose of bexagliflozin. The most common adverse reactions included elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN), elevated urine specific gravity (USG), elevated serum feline pancreas-specific lipase, vomiting, diarrhea/loose stool, hyporexia/anorexia, lethargy, elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and urinary tract infections. The adverse reactions seen in the pilot study are summarized in Table 2 below.
Table 2. Adverse Reactions (n=89)* Most cats had elevations ≤ 1.5X upper limit of normal (ULN). † Elevations were predominantly attributable to dehydration and/or glucosuria. ‡ Most cats had one or more isolated elevations, followed by a return to previous values. § Most elevations were ≤ 2X ULN. One cat had marked ALT and AST (9X and 6X upper limit of normal, respectively) elevations on Day 28. Following discontinuation of bexagliflozin, the liver enzymes decreased within 24 hours and returned to within reference range in 10 days. ** Observations included hiding, hyperactivity, vocalization, and abnormal behavior. |
Adverse Reaction | Number (%) |
Elevated BUN* | 51 (57.3) |
Elevated USG† | 43 (48.3) |
Elevated fPL‡ | 39 (43.8) |
Vomiting | 39 (43.8) |
Diarrhea/Loose Stool | 29 (32.6) |
Hyporexia/Anorexia | 28 (31.4) |
Lethargy | 16 (18.0) |
Elevated ALT and/or AST§ | 13 (14.6) |
Urinary tract infection | 13 (14.6) |
Dehydration | 10 (11.2) |
Elevated symmetrical dimethylarginine (SDMA) | 10 (11.2) |
Behavioral changes** | 9 (10.1) |
Ketosis/Ketonuria | 8 (9.0) |
Weight loss | 8 (9.0) |
Proteinuria | 8 (9.0) |
Pancreatitis | 7 (7.9) |
Death | 6 (6.7) |
Anemia | 6 (6.7) |
Hepatopathy | 6 (6.7) |
Hypercalcemia | 4 (4.5) |
Elevated creatine kinase | 4 (4.5) |
Inappropriate urination | 4 (4.5) |
Peritonitis | 3 (3.4) |
Constipation | 3 (3.4) |
Elevated creatinine | 2 (2.2) |
Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis | 2 (2.2) |
Diabetic ketoacidosis | 2 (2.2) |
Hemolytic anemia | 2 (2.2) |
Elevated total bilirubin | 2 (2.2) |
Twenty cats (22%) had at least one blood glucose value < 65 mg/dL recorded during 8-hour blood glucose curves. No clinical signs of hypoglycemia were observed and bexagliflozin dosing was not adjusted in any cat due to documented hypoglycemia. Nine serious adverse reactions associated with bexagliflozin administration occurred during the study, including six cats who died or were euthanized. Of the six cats who died or were euthanized, five became clinically ill within receiving 5 doses of bexagliflozin (range 1 to 5 doses). Four of the cats were euthanized due to further deterioration of their clinical condition despite supportive treatment. One cat died despite supportive treatment. Deaths were associated with the following conditions (number of cats): necrotizing pancreatitis and pancreatic abscess (1), pancreatitis and hepatic lipidosis (1), euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis and severe hepatic lipidosis (1), pancreatitis and hepatic abscesses (1), diabetic ketoacidosis (1), and persistent polyuria and polydipsia and quality of life concerns (1).
Three of nine serious adverse reactions that did not result in death or euthanasia included the following (number of cats): acute hepatocellular injury (1), immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (1), and euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis with concurrent pancreatitis and hepatopathy (1). Two cats with serious adverse reactions demonstrated persistent bexagliflozin blood plasma levels and elimination half-lives after discontinuation of bexagliflozin. One cat with renal and liver values within the reference range at screening was euthanized due to a continued decline in clinical condition despite treatment for euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis and severe hepatic lipidosis. The second cat, noted to have IRIS (International Renal Interest Society) stage II renal disease and liver values within the reference range at screening, recovered following treatment for marked liver enzyme elevations above the reference range on Day 28.
Extended Use Field Study
One hundred twenty-five cats with diabetes mellitus that had previously completed a bexagliflozin field study were enrolled in a multicenter extended use field study. Cats were enrolled in the study for a range of 7 to 1064 days, with a mean of 329 days. Safety data were evaluated for all 125 cats treated with at least one dose of Bexacat (bexagliflozin tablets). All cats received one tablet, once daily, regardless of body weight or blood glucose level. Forty-nine of the 125 enrolled cats were withdrawn from the study due to adverse reactions, serious adverse reactions, death/euthanasia, lack of effectiveness, suspected diabetic remission, withdrawal of owner consent, or lost to follow up. The most common adverse reactions were similar to those noted in the previous field studies and included elevated USG (35.2%), vomiting (27.2%), elevated fPL (26.4%), anorexia (24.0%), diarrhea (22.4%), urinary tract infections (17.6%), lethargy (16.8%), and death (16.0%).
Twenty serious adverse reactions associated with Bexacat administration occurred during the study, all resulting in death or euthanasia. Clinical signs of hypoglycemia were observed in two of these cats. Deaths were associated with the following conditions (number of cats), with some cats experiencing multiple comorbidities (necropsy was not granted in all cases): euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (8); diabetic ketoacidosis (4); hepatic lipidosis (5); pancreatic necrosis/peripancreatic fat saponification (3); urothelial carcinoma (2); hypercalcemia, recurrent calcium containing cystic calculi (1); lack of effectiveness, weight loss, anorexia (1); lethargy, weight loss, pallor (1); chronic renal disease, glomerulonephritis (1); chronic enteropathy (1); hypoglycemia, possible pancreatitis (1).