Update (June 17, 2026): Oral AB070597 Stabilises CKD Biomarkers and Prevents IRIS Stage Progression in Cats — 180-Day RCT

TL;DR

A prospective, randomised, controlled trial found that oral AB070597 (an amino acid and peptide preparation) stabilised BUN, creatinine, and phosphorus levels and prevented IRIS stage progression in cats with stage 2 or 3 CKD over 180 days, while a placebo group showed significant marker increases and 26% stage progression.

What just dropped

• Tsunekawa and Sato 2024 (J Feline Med Surg 26(10):1098612X241275249; October 2024; DOI 10.1177/1098612x241275249; PMID 39417648; open access): prospective, randomised, controlled parallel-group study; 35 cats with CKD allocated to 300 mg oral AB070597 (n=20) or placebo (n=15) for 180 days with re-examination every 30 days.
• In the placebo group, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and phosphorus levels increased significantly at 180 days compared with baseline, 30-day, and 60-day values. These values were not significantly changed in the AB070597 group during the study period.
• The IRIS stage was stable in cats receiving AB070597 from baseline to end of study. In the placebo group, IRIS stage progressed from stage 2 to stage 3 in 26% of cats. Body weight did not change significantly in either group.

Context

AB070597 is an oral preparation of amino acids and peptides formulated for renal support in cats. The biological rationale is based on supplementing substrates that may support tubular function and reduce uremic toxin accumulation. This is one of the few prospective RCTs to test a nutritional renal-support product in cats using hard IRIS staging outcomes alongside biochemical markers.

Limitations: small sample (n=35); single centre (specialist emergency hospital, Japan); 180-day follow-up only; the placebo group was smaller (n=15 vs n=20); body weight was similar across groups so weight bias is unlikely but other confounders exist. The study does not assess quality-of-life outcomes or survival. AB070597 is not an FDA-approved drug.

A 2026 review by Rosa et al. (PMID 41745993) contextualises feline CKD management, noting that SDMA and FGF-23 improve early detection and that therapeutic decision-making benefits from multi-parametric monitoring -- relevant context for clinicians considering whether to add adjunctive nutritional support alongside conventional CKD management.

What this changes in telmisartan-feline-ckd-proteinuria (https://www.thevoyage.ai/forvets/knowledge/telmisartan-feline-ckd-proteinuria)

The Tsunekawa 2024 RCT does not replace telmisartan or other RAAS-targeting therapies as first-line interventions for feline CKD with proteinuria or hypertension. It adds a preliminary RCT-level signal that amino acid supplementation may slow biochemical progression in IRIS stage 2-3 cats. Clinicians may encounter owner interest in AB070597 as a complementary approach; this study provides the most direct trial evidence currently available for that conversation.

References

1. Tsunekawa N, Sato M. Efficacy of oral AB070597 for the management of chronic kidney disease in cats: a prospective, randomised, controlled parallel-group study. J Feline Med Surg. 2024 Oct;26(10):1098612X241275249. DOI: 10.1177/1098612x241275249 (https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X241275249)
2. Rosa S, Silvestre-Ferreira AC, Martins R, Queiroga FP. Understanding the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats: From Pathophysiology to Emerging Biomarkers. Vet Sci. 2026 Feb;13(2):199. DOI: 10.3390/vetsci13020199 (https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13020199) [via]

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