Elanco’s Response vs. The Reality of Zorbium’s Numbers

Elanco recently issued a statement defending Zorbium, claiming:

“Overall, the incidence reports of serious adverse events are rare, with fewer than 10 for every 10,000 units sold, from the approval date on January 20, 2022, through September 2024.”

But do the numbers actually support that claim? Let’s take a closer look.

What the FDA Data Really Shows:

• 10,000 units sold (Jan 2022 – Sept 2024)
• 3,000 reported adverse reactions → 30% adverse reaction rate
• 266 reported cat deaths → 2.66% death rate (1 in 38 cats)
• Multiple dog deaths → Despite Zorbium not being approved for dogs
• Unapproved use in animals other than cats → How many adverse events came from extra-label use?

How Does Elanco Explain This?

• What counts as “serious”? If “serious” doesn’t include 266 dead cats, then what does?
• Why isn’t death listed as a side effect? A 1 in 38 death rate, yet pet owners aren’t warned.
• What about off-label use? How many adverse events are from veterinarians using Zorbium on animals other than cats and other than surgery?
• Who is actually reporting these reactions? Only Elanco is required to report. Many vets and owners don’t even realize they can.

Important Questions to Consider:

• Would you accept a 1 in 38 chance of your cat dying from a medication?
• Why was this drug tested on only 219 healthy cats before FDA approval?  Any cat that did have a reaction was removed from the study.
• If a human drug had a 30% adverse reaction rate, would it still be on the market?
• Why is a Schedule II opioid being used off-label with no tracking system in place?

 

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