Scientists have begun a groundbreaking drug trial that could help pets lose weight.

科学家们已启动一项开创性的药物试验，该试验或能帮助宠物减肥。

US-based company Okava Pharmaceuticals are launching a study titled MEOW-1 ('ManagEment of Over Weight cats') - the first-ever weight loss trial on household pets. Up to 50 cats will take the implant and hop on the scales after three months as part of the study. If successful, researchers hope to carry out the same study on dogs.

总部位于美国的公司奥卡瓦制药正发起一项名为MEOW-1（“超重猫咪管理计划”）的研究——这是有史以来首次针对家养宠物进行的减肥试验。 作为研究的一部分，多达50只猫咪将接受植入物治疗，并在三个月后称重。 如果试验成功，研究人员希望在狗狗身上开展同样的研究。

The new drug, named OKV-119, uses a pet-tailored version of the GLP-1 receptor agonists found in popular weight loss medicines for humans, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro.

这种名为OKV-119的新药，采用了与人类热门减肥药（如Wegovy和Mounjaro） 中发现的GLP-1受体激动剂类似但专为宠物定制的版本。

Explaining how it is intended to work, Michael Klotsman, CEO of Okava, said: "Caloric restriction, or fasting, is one of the most well-established interventions for extending lifespan and improving metabolic health in cats. But it's also one of the hardest to maintain. OKV-119 is designed to mimic many of the physiological effects of fasting — improved insulin sensitivity, reduced fat mass, and more efficient energy metabolism — without requiring significant changes in feeding routines or disrupting the human–animal bond that often centres around food."

奥卡瓦公司首席执行官迈克尔·克洛茨曼解释了该药物的作用原理，他表示：“热量限制或禁食， 是延长猫咪寿命和改善其代谢健康的最行之有效的干预手段之一。 但这也最难坚持。 OKV-119旨在模拟禁食的许多生理效应——提高胰岛素敏感性、 减少脂肪量以及提高能量代谢效率——而无需显著改变喂食习惯，也不会破坏人与动物之间常围绕食物建立起的情感纽带。”

A spokesperson for Okava said the drug has the potential to "enhance quality of life", promote healthy aging, and become "the most impactful life-extending therapy" available for cats. If launched, the company aims to keep the price at under $100 (£75) per month - less than the £125 Wegovy on private prescriptions in the UK.

奥卡瓦公司的一位发言人表示，该药物有潜力“提高生活质量”、促进健康老龄化， 并成为猫咪可用的“最具影响力的延长寿命疗法”。 如果上市，该公司计划将价格控制在每月100美元（75英镑）以下——低于英国私人处方中售价125英镑的Wegovy。

The company also said early studies have proven the implant and GLP-1 treatment is safe and beneficial to pets. Okava says the medicine works similarly in pets as it does in humans, meaning pet owners should "expect to see meaningful behavioural changes in their animals."

该公司还表示，早期研究已证明，这种植入物和GLP-1疗法对宠物安全有益。 奥卡瓦公司称，这种药物在宠物身上的作用与在人类身上相似， 这意味着宠物主人应“期待看到他们的宠物出现显著的行为变化”。

"Most notably, pets will become less food-motivated - they'll show less begging behaviour, reduced scavenging, and better portion control. Beyond appetite changes, we anticipate owners will observe more active and energetic pets as the weight comes off and metabolic health improves."

“最显著的是，宠物对食物的渴望会降低——它们乞食的行为会减少，翻找食物的行为会减少，对食物分量的控制也会更好。 除了食欲变化外，我们预计随着体重减轻和代谢健康改善，主人会观察到宠物变得更加活跃、精力充沛。”

The MEOW-1 study will be monitored by the US Federal Drug Association under its New Animal Drug (INAD) programme, and will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and weight-loss efficacy of OKV-119 in overweight or obese client-owned cats. In a description of the study, Okava said: "Weight management offers transformative health benefits for cats. Weight reduction is the only proven means of extending a cat's lifespan. Leaner cats have significantly reduced diabetes risk, and joint pain associated with excess body weight is eliminated."

MEOW-1研究将由美国联邦药品协会根据其新动物药品（INAD）计划进行监督， 并将评估OKV-119在超重或肥胖的家养猫咪中的安全性、耐受性和减肥效果。 奥卡瓦公司在研究描述中表示：“体重管理为猫咪带来了变革性的健康益处。 减肥是延长猫咪寿命的唯一有效手段。 体型更瘦的猫咪患糖尿病的风险显著降低，与超重相关的关节疼痛也会消除。”

It comes after figures showed that up to 65% of British dogs are overweight or obese - with overfeeding from owners and a lack of exercise singled out as the primary causes of excess weight among pets. Despite this, the majority of owners do not recognise this in their pets, with 81% telling the PDSA in 2022 that they believed their pet was an 'ideal' weight.

此前有数据显示，英国多达65%的狗狗超重或肥胖——宠物主人过度喂食和缺乏运动是宠物超重的主要原因。 尽管如此，大多数主人并未意识到这一点， 2022年，81%的主人告诉英国宠物慈善机构PDSA，他们认为自己的宠物体重“理想”。

Concerns have also been raised over the popularity of content featuring overweight pets on social media platforms, with excess weight often described as 'cute' or 'cuddly'. Overweight pets stand at higher risk of developing health problems like diabetes, arthritis, and heart conditions, and can have a shortened lifespan. Owners can tackle weight problems in their pets by measuring food, reducing treats, and increasing exercise.

此外，社交媒体平台上超重宠物的相关内容走红也引发了担忧， 超重常常被描述为“可爱”或“惹人怜爱”。 超重宠物患糖尿病、关节炎和心脏病等健康问题的风险更高，且寿命可能缩短。 宠物主人可以通过定量喂食、减少零食和增加运动来帮助宠物解决体重问题。