Merck Animal Health has announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of NUMELVI™ (atinvicitinib tablets), the first and only second-generation Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor approved to control itching associated with allergic dermatitis in dogs aged six months and older.
The treatment is expected to become available in veterinary clinics and hospitals across the United States by spring 2026.
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Skin conditions account for up to 20% of general veterinary cases, with allergic dermatitis commonly causing persistent itching, skin lesions, and emotional distress that can significantly affect both pets and their owners.
NUMELVI is designed as a once-daily, first-line treatment and begins reducing itch from the very first dose. The therapy is reported to be at least 10 times more selective for JAK1 than other JAK proteins, helping target itch and inflammation while maintaining a strong safety profile.
Most dogs require only one or half a tablet daily, and no adjustments to vaccination schedules are needed. The product is also available in easy-to-dispense bottles with one of the longest shelf lives among veterinary JAK inhibitor tablets.
Second-generation JAK inhibitors are already widely used in human medicine, and NUMELVI now brings a similar advanced therapeutic approach to veterinary dermatology, offering a new option for dogs across multiple age groups.
