excitement for the veterinary field (remains to be seen for humans). The excitement is because for the first time there is a drug that has shown great success in stimulating cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD)-related anemia to produce erythropoietin (the body's natural hormone that, upon release, stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells). The anemia of CKD is the leading cause of death in these cats, whose bone marrow pretty much just shuts down and with it, frequently a loss of desire to eat, leading to pretty devastating weight loss (especially muscle mass). It doesn't reverse all anemia, but it increases the red blood cell volume pretty significantly.
As with most oral meds of any kind, vomiting was the main side effect in a few cats, but was manageable and otherwise apparently quite safe.
I don't know the cost, but it would certainly be less costly than the previous off-label meds veterinarians were forced to use to try to stimulate cat bone marrow and it has the benefit of being used by the owner at home.
Humans end up getting blood transfusions with similar chronic kidney disease and nonregenerative anemia when similar measures to stimulate their bone marrow fail--something that is only temporary and adds to the problem, so there are similar efforts and drugs to do what this will do in cats.
I think it is a really promising option for you. Good luck.
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