Librela Lawsuit Says Zoetis Failed to Warn Pet Owners About Dangers of Canine Osteoarthritis Drug

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges the maker of canine osteoarthritis drug Librela has failed to adequately warn pet owners of the dangers of the product and misrepresented that the treatment is safe and effective for dogs.

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The 38-page lawsuit shares that Librela, the brand name version of bedinvetmab, has been linked to thousands of reports of adverse events in dogs, including behavior changes, urinary incontinence, seizures, worsening osteoarthritis symptoms, and death. Per the suit, there is no available antidote should a pet have an adverse reaction to the long-acting drug, which was approved by the FDA in 2023 to treat osteoarthritis-related pain and is administered orally or by injection on a monthly basis.

The suit alleges misrepresentations about Librela by manufacturer Zoetis, the world’s largest animal health company by sales, have caused “millions upon millions of dollars in damages for pet owners,” with the company to date continuing to maintain that the drug is safe for dogs.

The plaintiff, a Florida resident, says that within days of the first administration of Librela, her dog, Jake, a poodle mix diagnosed with coxofemoral osteoarthritis, began to experience drastically increased thirst, decreased appetite, limited mobility and worsening pain. In May of this year, Jake had to be euthanized as his condition had “become so dire and his quality of life so poor that there was only one humane option,” the lawsuit states.

“Plaintiff was harmed economically by the loss of her pet, and also suffered extreme emotional stress and anguish from losing her beloved Jake,” the case relays. “Plaintiff did not receive the product she intended to purchase: a pet medication that was fit for its ordinary purpose—to treat Jake’s pain associated with osteoarthritis in a safe and effective manner.”

Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease characterized by a loss of joint cartilage, thickening of the joint capsule, and new bone formation around the joint, the lawsuit explains. The condition is the most common form of arthritis in dogs, affecting roughly a quarter of the canine population, and can impact how dogs move and feel and their overall quality of life.

According to the cases, the Food and Drug Administration has received more than 3,800 reports of side effects concerning Librela through the end of last year. The European Database of Suspected Adverse Drug Reaction Reports presently contains nearly 20,000 reports of adverse events linked to Librela, the majority of which are classified as “systemic disorders,” the suit adds.

The suit goes on to state that the FDA’s Center of Veterinary Medicine in November 2023 notified Zoetis that the Librela website made false or misleading claims about the drug’s efficacy.

Per the case, claims regarding the product’s efficacy are based on two company-sponsored studies whose methods have since been questioned in a report published in the Veterinary Evidence journal.

The Librela lawsuit looks to cover all individuals in the United States who bought Librela during the applicable statute of limitations period and whose pet developed one or more of the following symptoms within six months of the date of an administration of Librela:

• Lethargy;
• Drooling;
• Shaking;
• Behavior changes;
• Hiding;
• Urinary incontinence;
• Inappetence;
• Increased or decreased thirst;
• Ataxia;
• Hind-end weakness;
• Inability to walk;
• New or worsening seizures;
• Organ damage;
• Worsening osteoarthritis symptoms;
• Worsening pain; and
• Death.

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