Cornell Launches New Study on Once-Weekly GLP-1 Therapy to Tackle Feline Obesity

Feline obesity is rising fast, and veterinarians have few effective tools to manage it. Now, a Cornell University–led study is testing a next-generation solution: a once-weekly GLP-1 protein therapy developed by Akston, the “Biotech Built for Pets.”

The clinical trial has officially begun at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and aims to evaluate the therapy in client-owned cats struggling with excess weight.

Why Cat Obesity Needs New Solutions?

Excess weight is now one of the most common health conditions in cats.

A few data points show the scale of the problem:

• 61% of U.S. cats were overweight or obese in 2022 (APOP).
• Awareness is increasing. 33% of cat parents reported their cats as overweight in 2024, up from 28% in 2023.

Veterinarians often lack effective and sustainable weight-management tools. A long-acting GLP-1 therapy could shift the landscape.

Inside the Once-Weekly GLP-1 Therapy

Akston’s therapy is designed to help cats regulate appetite using a next-generation GLP-1 protein.

Key advantages include:

• Once-weekly dosing, supported by strong PK data
• No adverse effects observed in Cornell’s preclinical studies
• Built using Akston’s Fc-fusion protein platform, which enables fast, cost-effective development

The platform also helps tune immune interactions for longer therapeutic action.

Akston CEO Todd Zion put it simply: “Feline obesity is common, but poorly treated. A weekly GLP-1 therapy could genuinely change outcomes.”

Study Design and Enrollment

The Cornell trial will run for roughly three months.

Current plan:

• Enroll 70 cats, with expansion potential to 140
• Include client-owned cats living with excess weight
• Collect real-world insights needed for regulatory pathways

According to Patrick Carney, DVM, PhD at Cornell: “A safe, effective tool for managing feline obesity would be a breakthrough in veterinary care.”

Enrollment is now open, and initial cats are already being screened.

What’s Coming Next?

Akston is already developing a parallel GLP-1 program for dogs, currently about six months behind the feline program.

With strong clinical results and appropriate manufacturing scale-up, the company sees major market potential in companion-animal obesity therapeutics.

About Akston

Akston is the Biotech Built for Pets. The company uses its proprietary Fc-fusion protein platform to develop targeted, long-acting biologics that reduce treatment frequency while improving efficacy. Backed by an integrated GMP facility, Akston accelerates development from discovery to commercial scale—bringing new innovations to veterinarians and the pets they care for.

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