What Okava Pharmaceuticals does

Okava Pharmaceuticals is a privately held, clinical-stage veterinary biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It is developing a small pipeline of therapeutics that adapt FDA-approved human medicines and drug delivery technologies for use in companion animals, with the stated mission of extending the healthy lifespan of dogs and cats by one to three years. The company's two lead assets are OKV-119, a miniature subdermal exenatide (GLP-1 receptor agonist) implant that delivers continuous therapy for up to six months from a single administration and is being developed for obesity, diabetes, and cardiometabolic conditions in cats (and now dogs), and OKV-1001, a patented modified-release oral mycophenolate formulation for canine immune-mediated inflammatory conditions such as atopic dermatitis. The OKV-119 program is built on an exclusive veterinary license to Vivani Medical's NanoPortal nano-scale drug delivery platform, while OKV-1001 relies on a proprietary modified-release formulation designed for once-daily dosing in dogs.

Underlying technology centers on two complementary platforms: (i) the NanoPortal miniature implant, which the company claims enables guaranteed medication adherence over six-month dosing windows, addressing the well-documented challenge of compliance in companion animals, and (ii) a modified-release small-molecule formulation that has shown 39% and 49% reductions in CADESI-04 skin lesion scores at Day 28 and Day 56 respectively in a published canine atopic dermatitis pilot study. Okava conducts its clinical research through a network of leading veterinary schools including Cornell, the University of Pennsylvania, UC Davis, the University of Florida, and LSU, with all studies registered with the American Veterinary Medical Association Clinical Trials Registry. The company has secured a $500,000 FDA Minor Use/Minor Species (MUMS) grant for OKV-1001 in canine immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and operates the MEOW-1 study under an FDA-CVM INAD application.

Okava is pre-revenue and has not yet commercially launched a product. Its go-to-market model is structured around veterinary clinics as the channel for product administration (particularly for the implantable OKV-119), with the company indicating a future push into direct-to-consumer pet pharmacy and online prescription distribution once regulatory approval is secured. Target pricing of approximately $100 per month per pet has been reported for OKV-119, positioning the products as subscription-like, chronic-care therapeutics for pet owners (the ultimate end customer) accessed through their veterinarians. Target FDA filing for OKV-119 is anticipated in 2027-2028. The company employs between 1 and 10 people and is led by Founder and CEO Michael Klotsman, with leadership drawn from GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Animal Health (via Schering-Plough), Alza, and Chewy.

Name

Okava Pharmaceuticals

Legal name

OKAVA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Website

https://okava.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Okava Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage veterinary biopharmaceutical company developing OKV-119, a long-acting GLP-1 implant, and OKV-1001, a modified-release mycophenolate, for obesity, diabetes, atopic dermatitis, and inflammatory conditions in companion animals, targeting pet owners through veterinary clinics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Endocrinology & Metabolic Drugs (e.g., Diabetes, Thyroid) (HLAMAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dermatology & Allergy Drugs (HLAMAEAH)

Keywords

• Veterinary pharmaceuticals
• Pet obesity treatment
• GLP-1 implant
• Veterinary drug delivery
• Companion animal therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Veterinary Pharmaceutical Products: Revenue generated from selling proprietary pet health pharmaceutical products including OKV-119 (GLP-1 implant for cats/dogs) and OKV-1001 (modified-release mycophenolate for dogs). Products are administered through veterinary clinics and target chronic conditions including obesity, diabetes, atopic dermatitis, and other diseases of aging.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Okava Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary veterinary medicines by adapting FDA-approved human pharmaceuticals for companion animals. Its two lead candidates are OKV-119, a miniature subdermal GLP-1 (exenatide) implant delivering continuous therapy for up to six months for feline and canine obesity, diabetes, and cardiometabolic conditions, and OKV-1001, a patented modified-release oral mycophenolate formulation for canine immune-mediated inflammatory conditions such as atopic dermatitis and arthritis.

Product overview

OKAVA is a clinical-stage biopharma company developing a pipeline of products that adapt FDA-approved human medicines for pets. The portfolio consists of two main product candidates: OKV-119 (an ultra-long-acting GLP-1 implant leveraging Vivani's NanoPortal technology for feline and canine obesity, diabetes, and cardiometabolic conditions) and OKV-1001 (a modified-release mycophenolate formulation for canine atopic dermatitis, arthritis, and autoimmune inflammatory diseases). OKV-119 is administered as a miniature subdermal implant during routine veterinary visits, while OKV-1001 is an oral once-daily formulation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OKV-119 Ultra-Long-Acting GLP-1 Implant A miniature, subdermal exenatide implant developed using Vivani Medical's NanoPortal technology, designed to deliver continuous GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy for up to six months from a single administration during routine veterinary visits. It targets weight management, diabetes, and cardiometabolic conditions in cats and dogs.
• OKV-1001 Modified-Release Mycophenolate

Quantifiable outcome

• Mean percentage change from baseline in skin lesion scores (CADESI-04) declined by 39% and 49% at Day 28 and Day 56 respectively in dogs treated with OKV-1001 for atopic dermatitis
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Vivani Medical, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2025Exclusive veterinary licensing and collaboration agreement for NanoPortal drug delivery technology. Vivani provides its proprietary NanoPortal platform enabling sustained drug delivery from miniature subdermal implants. Collaboration initiated in 2019 with focus on cats, expanded in 2025 to include dogs. OKV-119 is being developed under this partnership for weight management, diabetes, and cardiometabolic conditions in companion animals.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)coreOthers · 5 May 2020FDA awarded Okava a $500,000 grant through the Minor Use/Minor Species (MUMS) program to support research for OKV-1001 for treatment of canine immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. This grant validates FDA's recognition of OKV-1001 as an innovative product addressing high unmet medical need.
• Cornell UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical research partnership with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for conducting clinical studies. Okava has led clinical studies in partnership with renowned veterinary experts from Cornell and other leading institutions.
• University of PennsylvaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical research partnership for conducting veterinary clinical trials. Part of Okava's network of leading veterinary institutions including Cornell, Penn, UC Davis, University of Florida, and LSU.
• UC DaviscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical research partnership with UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine for advancing pet health research and clinical studies.
• University of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical research partnership for conducting veterinary clinical trials as part of Okava's network of leading veterinary institutions.
• Louisiana State University (LSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical research partnership with LSU School of Veterinary Medicine for OKV-1001 IMHA study. Okava received FDA grant to study OKV-1001 in dogs with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in collaboration with Cornell and LSU.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ceva Animal Health: Global veterinary pharmaceutical company with significant companion animal portfolio across multiple therapeutic areas. Comparable as a privately-held animal health company with broad pet pharma capabilities.
• Vetoquinol: Independent global animal health pharmaceutical company with companion animal product lines including endocrinology and dermatology. Comparable as a mid-sized specialty animal pharma competing in OKAVA's therapeutic areas.
• Dechra Pharmaceuticals: Specialty veterinary pharmaceuticals company (acquired by Elanco) focused on companion animal therapeutics including endocrinology and dermatology — directly overlapping OKAVA's OKV-1001 dermatology and OKV-119 metabolic disease focus areas.
• Zoetis: Largest global animal health company with a broad companion animal pharmaceutical portfolio across endocrinology, dermatology, and chronic disease — the dominant incumbent whose commercial scale and veterinarian relationships OKAVA will eventually compete against.
• Elanco Animal Health: Major animal health company with significant companion animal pharmaceutical offerings following its Bayer Animal Health and Aratana acquisitions, including pet endocrinology and dermatology products that overlap with OKAVA's pipeline.
• Merck Animal Health: Global animal health division with deep pharmaceutical portfolio including companion animal therapeutics. Comparable as the incumbent employer of OKAVA's regulatory leader (David Petrick) and a likely competitive threat in pet endocrinology and immunology.
• Phibro Animal Health: Animal health and mineral nutrition company with companion animal pharmaceutical products. Comparable as a broader animal health player with specialty pharma capabilities relevant to OKAVA's commercialization model.

Emerging players

• Bimeda: Privately-held global veterinary pharmaceutical company focused on both livestock and companion animals. Comparable as a similarly-structured specialty animal pharma player with R&D and commercial operations in pet therapeutics.
• Vivani Medical: Developer of the NanoPortal drug delivery platform and OKAVA's exclusive veterinary licensing partner. Vivani is comparable as the upstream technology provider for OKAVA's flagship OKV-119 implant program, though Vivani itself is focused on human applications.

Direct peers

• Aratana Therapeutics: Was a clinical-stage pet therapeutics company developing novel medicines for companion animals (now part of Elanco). Closely mirrors OKAVA's model of developing innovative pharmaceuticals specifically for cats and dogs across chronic conditions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/okavapharma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Okava Pharmaceuticals