FOI2026/00270 – Applications for Lenivia (izenivetmab) and Portela (relfovetmab)
Published 22 May 2026
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Your request
Please provide the following information:
1. Has Zoetis, or any other company, submitted an application for marketing authorisation in the United Kingdom for either of the following veterinary medicinal products:
- Lenivia (izenivetmab)
- Portela (relfovetmab)
2. If applications have been submitted, please confirm:
a. The date each application was received
b. The current stage of assessment
c. Whether any additional information has been requested from the applicant
d. Whether any safety concerns, risk–benefit considerations, or post‑marketing data from other regions are being evaluated as part of the assessment
3. If no applications have been submitted, please confirm whether the VMD has had any pre‑submission discussions or scientific advice meetings with Zoetis regarding either product.
4. Please also confirm whether the VMD is conducting any internal reviews, horizon scanning, or preparatory assessments relating to NGF‑blocking monoclonal antibodies for veterinary use.
Our reply
Under Section 43(3) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we are entitled to neither confirm nor deny whether we hold the requested information, where doing so would or would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of a third party under Section 43(2).
Disclosure, or even confirmation of the existence or absence of applications, would be commercially sensitive, as it could reveal confidential product development timelines, applicants’ strategic positioning, or ongoing evaluation processes. This would be likely to prejudice both the applicants’ commercial interests and the integrity of the regulatory process.
We acknowledge the public interest in transparency. However, this is outweighed by the stronger public interest in safeguarding the confidentiality of commercial information and preserving a fair and effective regulatory system. Confirming or denying the existence of information would itself risk undermining these key interests.
Therefore, for questions 1, 2 and 3 we must refuse to confirm or deny whether the requested information is held, relying on the exemption provided by Section 43(3).
The VMD has completed an in-depth assessment of Librela, an injectable anti-nerve growth factor monoclonal antibody therapy for pain relief injection for dogs with arthritis, as part of our ongoing surveillance activities.
The VMD has not conducted any internal reviews, horizon scanning, or preparatory assessments relating to anti-nerve growth factor (NGF)‑blocking monoclonal antibodies for veterinary use, beyond its established regulatory functions.