New treatment for cats with chronic kidney disease: Boehringer Ingelheim launches Semintra^®

Ingelheim, Germany, 2 September 2013 – A new treatment option for cats diagnosed with chronic kidney disease has been launched in Europe by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. Semintra^® is the first ever angiotensin receptor blocker to receive a marketing authorisation in veterinary medicine, and contains the active ingredient telmisartan¹. It is licensed for the reduction of proteinuria (i.e. the unwanted loss of proteins via the urine) associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats.

CKD is characterised by a progressive loss in renal function over a period of months or years. It is a common disease affecting around 10% ² of all cats and up to 35% ³ of geriatric cats.

Semintra^® has a highly targeted mode of action that provides rapid and reliable reduction in proteinuria in cats with chronic kidney disease ^1;4;5. It is well tolerated by cats; its excretion is almost exclusively independent of kidney function ¹.

Above all, Semintra^® is easy to use. It provides the dosing accuracy advantages of an oral solution and has been shown to be well accepted by more than 90% of cats ^1;5;6. Martha Cannon, RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) Specialist in Feline Medicine from Oxford Cat Clinic, Oxford (United Kingdom), has already used Semintra^® in cats with CKD: "For us at the Oxford Cat Clinic, ease of use is an enormously important part of any product that we use for cats. From our personal experience, we found that Semintra^® is very well accepted by cats, with owners finding it very easy to give and to build into their cat’s daily treatment plan."

Chronic kidney disease is a debilitating disease ^7;8 that detracts from the quality of life of the cat and owner, and the strong bond between them ^9;10"We are proud to provide a novel and effective treatment with Semintra^® that is easy to use and helps cat owners to maintain a healthy bond with their cat," comments Dr Joachim Hasenmaier, Member of the Board of Managing Directors and responsible for Animal Health.

Semintra^® is now available as a 4 mg/ml oral solution. The 30 ml bottle will last the average 4 kg cat 30 days ⁶.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is committed to fostering the health and well-being of mankind by promoting the emotional and physical benefits arising from the human animal bond.
It has been providing solutions for the prevention and treatment of diseases in animals for almost 60 years.

Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 140 affiliates and more than 46,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
Social responsibility is a central element of Boehringer Ingelheim's culture. Involvement in social projects, caring for employees and their families, and providing equal opportunities for all employees form the foundation of the global operations. Mutual cooperation and respect, as well as environmental protection and sustainability are intrinsic factors in all of Boehringer Ingelheim’s endeavours.
In 2012, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about 14.7 billion euro. R&D expenditure in the business area Prescription Medicines corresponds to 22.5% of its net sales.