Semintra^®
New treatment for cats with chronic kidney disease: Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. launches Semintra^®

Burlington, ON June 2, 2014– A new treatment option for cats diagnosed with chronic kidney disease has been launched in Canada by Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. Semintra^® is the first ever angiotensin receptor blocker to receive marketing authorization in veterinary medicine, and contains the active ingredient telmisartan. It is licensed for the reduction of proteinuria (the unwanted loss of protein via the urine) associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats.¹

CKD is characterized by a progressive loss in renal function over a period of months or years. It is a common disease affecting around 10% of all cats and up to 35% of geriatric cats.²

Semintra^® has a highly targeted mode of action that provides rapid and reliable reduction in proteinuria in cats with chronic kidney disease.1 It is well tolerated by most cats and its excretion is almost exclusively independent of kidney function.¹

Above all, Semintra^® is easy to use. It provides the dosing accuracy advantages of an oral solution and has been shown to be well accepted by more than 91% of cats.¹

Chronic kidney disease is a debilitating disease that detracts from the quality of life of the cat and owner, and the strong bond between them. “We are proud to provide a novel and effective treatment with Semintra^® that is easy to use and helps cat owners to maintain a healthy bond with their cat”, commented Dr Joachim Hasenmaier, Member of the Board of Managing Directors of Boehringer Ingelheim globally and responsible for Animal Health.

Semintra^® is now available in Canada.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is committed to fostering the health and well-being of mankind by promoting the emotional and physical benefits arising from the human animal bond.
It has been providing solutions for the prevention and treatment of diseases in animals for almost 60 years.

Boehringer Ingelheim

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, Boehringer Ingelheim operates globally with 142 affiliates and a total of more than 47,400 employees. The focus of the family-owned company, founded in 1885, is researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing new medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

Taking social responsibility is an important element of the corporate culture at Boehringer Ingelheim. This includes worldwide involvement in social projects, such as the initiative “Making more Health” and caring for the employees. Respect, equal opportunities and reconciling career and family form the foundation of the mutual cooperation. In everything it does, the company focuses on environmental protection and sustainability.

In 2013, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about 14.1 billion euros. R&D expenditure corresponds to 19.5% of its net sales.

The Canadian headquarters of Boehringer Ingelheim was established in 1972 in Montreal, Quebec and is now located in Burlington, Ontario. Boehringer Ingelheim employs more than 550 people across Canada.