Welcome To​ The

Zorbium® Information Center

One of the rare independent veterinary drug safety websites.

Interactive Zorbium® Adverse Events. Think Death isn’t an adverse event, check here.

⚠️ A Federal Petition on Zorbium® Is Open for Public Comment — Right Now

The FDA is reviewing a Citizen Petition (Docket FDA-2025-P-2977) on Zorbium®’s safety. The agency has already asked for more time once. Your story can become part of the permanent public record the FDA is required to consider. This week we shared this docket with our readers, and public comments jumped from 9 to 14 in 5 days, after sitting untouched for nearly a year. Great job readers!

Add Your Story to the FDA Record →

Same stage of life, very different volume. 📈

Both Zorbium® and Simbadol® are buprenorphine drugs given to cats for surgery pain. We lined up their FDA adverse event reports, each drug’s first 4 years on the market. Cats only.

Zorbium®: 3,250 reports

Simbadol®: 460 reports

That’s about 7 times as many reports for Zorbium®. The share of reports that include a death is similar (about 11% vs 8%), but with 7 times the reports, that’s about 10 times the deaths.

388 Deceased Cats and 5 Dogs (Preliminary 10.6.26)
Fatality counts are based on FDA reports coded as “Death.” Cardiac arrest reactions are reported separately.
FDA adverse event data may be updated retroactively; counts may change with subsequent downloads.
Zorbium® has been the subject of growing media coverage
WHOIS, WPIX, WSB-TV and Author Ingrid King

Veterinary Technician Arrested

Documenting the facts about this veterinary medication​

About Zorbium® Information Center
This website serves as an independent resource for factual information about Zorbium® (Buprenorphine Transdermal Solution), a Class III opioid medication approved by the FDA for veterinary use in cats
only for postoperative pain management. NOT for UTIs, bruises, cystitis, cancer, dogs, birds, and horses, etc. [emphasis added]
Our mission is to provide transparent, impartial, balanced information about this drug, including:
Understanding Zorbium®, Official FDA documentation and approval details
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and responses
Reported adverse events and safety concerns
Research, Insights and Scientific Analysis
This site was created to help veterinarians, and concerned pet owners access important information about Zorbium® in one centralized location.
We are not affiliated with Elanco (the manufacturer of Zorbium®) or any regulatory agency. Our goal is simply to organize and share publicly available information in an accessible format.

Numbers Speak For Themselves

Deceased Cats & Dogs
Adverse Events
Months

Understanding Zorbium®

Zorbium® is a buprenorphine transdermal Class III opioid solution approved in the US January 20, 2022 by the FDA for managing post-operative pain in cats. This section provides basic information about the medication, its approved uses, and how it works.

FDA Documentation

This section contains official FDA documentation related to Zorbium®, clinical studies vs actual reports, and regulatory updates. We maintain copies of publicly available FDA documents for reference. 10/13/25 FDA Downgrades Zorbium®

FOIA Requests & Responses

We have filed multiple Freedom of Information Act requests to gather data about Zorbium®’s safety record, licensing, distribution, adverse events, and manufacturing information. Included is a section featuring requests and any responses received. Updated 9/25/25

FDA-Confirmed Zorbium® Records. Deaths: 388 Through Q2 2026. 10.6.26

FDA adverse event data may be updated retroactively, so counts may change with subsequent downloads.

Report USA-USFDACVM-2025-US-008923 (dated Feb 2025), which lists 266 deaths, is not included in this count. FDA’s response to our FOIA requests states: “Each report retrieves information from cases received within the specified date range listed in the parameters. Since the date ranges of your separate FOIA requests overlap, the results should not be added together.”

Other sources may report a higher total because they include this report.

Updated 10.6.26

Documentation

Key Documentation Resources

Adverse Event Reports

Access compiled data on adverse events reported to the FDA.

Read More

Research and Insights

Vets underdosing, does that mean we were right all along?
Drug drying times, conversations with vets and a toxicologist. Updated 7/25/26

Read More
Orange cat looking at computer - Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@vladimir_d?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Volodymyr Dobrovolskyy</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/a-cat-sitting-in-front-of-a-computer-monitor-KrYbarbAx5s?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a>

Analysis from Zorbiumlawsuit.com

Data and more data, from FDA to Zorbiumlawsuit.com, your data here.

Read More →

Disclaimer

AFFILIATION NOTICE
This website and its content are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Elanco or any other product manufacturers mentioned.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION DISCLAIMER
We are not veterinarians or medical professionals. The information provided on this site is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as veterinary or medical advice. Always consult with a qualified veterinarian or medical professional before making any decisions regarding your pet’s health or treatment.
IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION NOTICE
PLEASE NOTE: TREATING YOUR CAT WITHOUT PROPER VETERINARY GUIDANCE CAN BE DANGEROUS.
While we have made every effort to provide accurate information on this website, veterinary science constantly evolves, and we cannot guarantee that all information presented here is completely accurate, up-to-date, or appropriate for your specific cat’s situation.
Any treatments mentioned should only be used with full veterinary knowledge and approval. We cannot accept responsibility for any outcomes related to information found on this website. By continuing to use this site, you agree to these terms and conditions.
If your cat appears to be in pain or distress, please don’t waste precious time searching online – contact your veterinarian immediately.

Copyright Notice
The content on this website represents years of research and personal effort. This site may not be reproduced or republished, either online or elsewhere, without express written permission from the site owner. To request permission, please use the Contact page.
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