Ingelheim, Germany, and Bracknell, United Kingdom, September 1, 2026
Boehringer Ingelheim has launched SCOVELLA® (velagliflozin oral solution) in Great Britain as the first therapy specifically developed and approved for insulin dysregulation in horses and ponies. The veterinary medicine is indicated for the treatment of hyperinsulinaemia in insulin-dysregulated horses and ponies that do not respond adequately to changes in husbandry and exercise. The launch represents a significant development in equine medicine because insulin dysregulation is recognized as a major underlying driver of laminitis, a painful and potentially disabling condition affecting horses. SCOVELLA is designed to reduce elevated insulin concentrations and provide veterinarians with a treatment option aimed at addressing an important biological cause of laminitis.
SCOVELLA Targets Insulin Dysregulation in Horses
SCOVELLA contains velagliflozin, an oral solution belonging to the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor class. The medicine works by helping the horse eliminate glucose through urine, supporting regulation of glucose concentrations and consequently reducing insulin production. According to the approved product information, SCOVELLA is intended for horses and ponies with insulin dysregulation who remain insufficiently responsive to husbandry and exercise interventions. Veterinary assessment is required before treatment to confirm insulin dysregulation, particularly because laminitis can be a clinical manifestation of the condition. The product is supplied as a 15 mg/ml oral solution, providing a practical liquid formulation for administration in equine patients. Boehringer Ingelheim said insulin dysregulation affects an estimated one in five horses, while research has identified the condition as a major underlying cause of laminitis. The company highlighted the substantial welfare burden associated with laminitis, noting that one-third of horses diagnosed with laminitis are euthanized within a year. Because the risk of laminitis increases with circulating insulin concentrations, controlling excessive insulin levels represents an important therapeutic objective. SCOVELLA is specifically designed to address hyperinsulinaemia, potentially allowing veterinarians to intervene more directly in the pathway contributing to laminitis.
Clinical Evidence Supports Rapid Insulin Reduction
The development of SCOVELLA was supported by an extensive body of clinical research in insulin-dysregulated horses and ponies. Boehringer Ingelheim reported that treatment with velagliflozin can rapidly and significantly reduce hyperinsulinaemia, with effects becoming evident within days of starting treatment. In a clinical dietary challenge study cited by the company, none of the animals treated with SCOVELLA developed clinical laminitis, compared with 38% of untreated control animals. These findings provide evidence supporting the potential role of insulin reduction in preventing laminitis under challenging metabolic conditions, although treatment decisions remain under veterinary supervision. The product’s regulatory authorization in Great Britain was granted as a limited marketing authorization under Article 26(1)(b) of the UK Veterinary Medicines Regulations in April 2026. The approved indication specifically covers hyperinsulinaemia in insulin-dysregulated horses and ponies that are not responsive to changes in husbandry and exercise. The veterinary product information also specifies important contraindications, including use in horses with anorexia or hyperlipaemia accompanied by relevant clinical signs.
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New Veterinary Option for Laminitis Management
SCOVELLA became available to prescribing veterinary surgeons in Great Britain from September 2026, with its official debut planned at the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress. Boehringer Ingelheim said it intends to introduce the therapy into additional international markets in the future. The company described the treatment as the result of approximately 15 years of research focused on equine insulin dysregulation and laminitis. Alongside the product launch, Boehringer is providing educational resources intended to help veterinary practices manage horses affected by insulin dysregulation and laminitis. The introduction of SCOVELLA marks an important milestone in equine veterinary medicine, particularly for a condition where treatment has historically relied heavily on management strategies such as dietary control, exercise and husbandry changes. By providing a licensed medicine specifically targeting hyperinsulinaemia, the launch gives equine veterinarians an additional tool for managing horses at risk of insulin-associated laminitis. Further market introductions and continued veterinary experience with velagliflozin will help establish its broader role in the long-term management of insulin dysregulation and equine health.
Source: Boehringer Ingelheim press release
