This webinar was originally presented on Thursday, November 21, 2024.

Overview – Anemia is a common and serious complication in felines with chronic kidney disease (CKD), significantly impacting their quality of life and overall health outcomes. Despite advancements in veterinary medicine, many practitioners still face challenges in accurately diagnosing and managing anemia associated with CKD. The complexity of the condition, combined with the limitations of existing treatment options, underscores the need for improved knowledge and skills among veterinarians in this area.

Current standards of care for feline anemia of CKD often involve erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and iron supplementation; however, these therapies have notable drawbacks, including potential adverse effects and inadequate response in some patients. The recent conditional approval of Molidustat, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, presents a new avenue for treatment but requires careful evaluation of the data supporting its efficacy and safety.

This activity aims to enhance veterinary practitioners’ understanding of the diagnostic criteria and pathophysiology of anemia in CKD, recognize the limitations of current treatment standards, critically evaluate the data for Molidustat, and apply this information to make informed clinical recommendations for managing feline patients suffering from anemia due to CKD.

Objectives:

Pharmacist:

1. Describe the basic diagnostic criteria and pathophysiology for anemia of CKD in felines.
2. Recognize current standards of care for feline anemia of CKD as well as their drawbacks.
3. Understand the mechanism of action of Molidustat.
4. Recall Molidustat drug information in order to make rational clinical recommendations for felines with anemia of CKD.
5. Define the current regulatory status of and the limitations of prescribing Molidustat.

Pharmacy Technicians:

1. Recognize current standards of care for feline anemia of CKD as well as their drawbacks.
2. Understand the mechanism of action of Molidustat.
3. Define the current regulatory status of and the limitations of prescribing Molidustat