Kindred Biosciences, Inc. announced positive topline results from its pilot field effectiveness study of epoCat (KIND-510a), a long-acting feline recombinant erythropoietin that is being developed for the management of anemia in cats. In the study, which enrolled 23 cats with anemia, epoCat rapidly increased mean hematocrit (a measure of red blood cell count), with statistically significant improvement seen as early as Week 1 (p<0.0001). The effect was sustained, with continued statistically significant improvement at Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (p<0.0001 at each visit). Compared to baseline, the mean peak improvement in hematocrit was 55.4%. In addition, 95.5% of the 22 evaluable patients achieved treatment success over the 6-week treatment period, defined prospectively as either a 30% increase in hematocrit value over baseline or the hematocrit value reaching normal range. Furthermore, cats treated with epoCat demonstrated statistically significant improvements over baseline (p<0.01 to p<0.05) across all three health-related quality of life (QoL) domains, Vitality, Comfort, and Emotional Wellbeing, as measured by a validated QoL instrument. Based on a preliminary review of the safety data, the drug appears to be well tolerated. The Company plans to commence a pivotal study this year and is currently in discussions with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding study design. The FDA has agreed to accept hematocrit as the primary endpoint for the pivotal study. epoCat is a recombinant feline erythropoietin that has been engineered by KindredBio to have a prolonged half-life. Erythropoietin is an endogenous protein that regulates and stimulates production of red blood cells.