Repeated oral dose tolerance in dogs treated concomitantly with ciclosporin and oclacitinib for three weeks

Background Ciclosporin and oclacitinib are immunomodulators approved for the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis. The administration of a short course of prednisolone at the beginning of ciclosporin therapy hastens the efficacy of this drug; oclacitinib has a rapid antipruritic effect similar to that of prednisolone. Objectives To evaluate the oral tolerance of oclacitinib and ciclosporin given concurrently for three weeks. Animals Two groups of eight beagles. Methods Dogs were randomized to receive oclacitinib alone (0.4–0.6 mg/kg twice daily for 14 days then once daily for seven days) or in combination with ciclosporin (5 mg/kg once daily) for three weeks. They were examined every day and adverse events were recorded. Blood samples were collected during the acclimatization phase, weekly during treatment and at the end of the study for haematology, clinical chemistry and coagulation evaluation. Results There were no abnormal clinical observations following treatment with oclacitinib given alone or concomitantly with ciclosporin, with the exception of diarrhoea in two dogs receiving both drugs. Three dogs from each group experienced transient inappetence; three dogs treated with oclacitinib had mild weight loss. Clinical pathology parameters remained within the reference range for beagle dogs at that facility. Conclusions and clinical importance The concomitant administration of ciclosporin and oclacitinib for three weeks to beagles was well tolerated and was not associated with an increase in the number of adverse events or laboratory abnormalities beyond those associated with oclacitinib given alone. Résumé Contexte La cyclosporine et l'oclacitinib sont des immunomodulateurs approuvés dans le traitement de la dermatite atopique canine. L'administration de prednisolone sur une courte période en début de traitement à la ciclosporine accélère l'efficacité de ce traitement; l'oclacitinb a un effet antiprurigineux rapide similaire à celui de la prednisolone. Objectifs Déterminer la tolérance orale de l'oclacitinib associé à la ciclosporine pendant 3 semaines. Sujets Deux groupes de huit beagles. Méthodes Les chiens étaient randomisés pour recevoir l'oclacitinib seule (0.4–0.6 mg/kg deux fois par jour pendant 14 jours puis une fois par jour pendant 7 jours) ou en combinaison avec la ciclosporine (5mg/kg une fois par jour) pendant 3 semaines. Un examen clinique était réalisé chaque jour et les effets indésirables enregistrés. Les échantillons sanguins ont été