Vatinoxan alleviates the adverse effects of alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist drugs (A2D), which are perhaps the most widely used sedative and pre-anesthetic drugs in veterinary medicine. Vatinoxan works by blocking the action of A2Ds in the periphery as it cannot effectively penetrate the central nervous system. Thus far we have shown that it mitigates numerous adverse effects associated with the use of A2Ds, such as cardiovascular depression, hyperglycemia and diuresis. Vatinoxan has been actively researched, especially in dogs, cats and horses. It is currently licensed in Europe and the USA in a sedative combination for dogs (Zenalpha®).
Nausea is a well-recognized phenomenon in animals, oftentimes associated with disease or as a side-effect of drugs. But do species that cannot vomit experience nausea and nausea-related inappetence? We think so.
Our group has launched a proof-of-concept study aiming to identify mechanisms of nausea in ruminants and horses. This study is a first step in finding pharmacological solutions to identify and treat nausea and inappetence in large, non-vomiting species.