Pet cancer is the leading killer of dogs in America today. Lymphoma cancer is one of the most common types of cancer affecting canines, especially prevalent in Golden Retrievers.
Statistically, traditional pet therapy for Canine Lymphoma Cancer generally affords dogs up to a one year survival time. Without traditional veterinary medications, average survival post diagnosis in dogs may only be from one to three months.
Survival time for affected canines using natural oralternative pet cancer therapies varies, depending on the exact nutrients, supplements and diet being used to treat the cancer.
Veterinary Emerging Technologies Development Corporation, also referred to as VetDC, just announced that it has successfully raised 1.5 million dollars to develop the first drug specifically developed to combat Canine Lymphoma Cancer. The new drug is called VDC-1101. Initially VDC-1101 was investigated as a potential therapy for humans with Lymphoma cancer.
Human trials have stopped and now, new research is being conducted for affected dogs. Researchers hope to make this new drug available to dogs within the next two years.
According to Dr. Greg Ogilvie, DVM, a veterinarian and pet cancer specialist, not associated with VetDC, “this is a blessing.”
Currently, only two medications are specifically approved by the FDA to fight canine cancer in the United States. Unfortunately, neither drug targets Lymphoma Cancer. The two drugs in question: Palladia, approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration in 2009, to treat skin based Mast Cell Tumors, and Oncept, a DNA vaccine approved in 2010 for Melanoma Cancer affecting the mouth and oral cavity of dogs.
Today, the chemotherapy drugs being used in various canine cancer therapy protocols are medications originally developed for humans, then abandoned. None are specifically approved for use in dogs.
Under the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994, the use of human cancer drugs in veterinary patients including dogs is considered to be an allowable “extra-label” use.
After its initial launch in 2010, VetDC acquired a license from Gilead Sciences Inc., for a molecule that selectively targets and kills cancerous lymphoma cancer cells called GS-9219. VetDC renamed the molecule VDC-1101.
Apparently, clinical trials using GS-9219 in dogs with Lymphoma Cancer preceded those in humans. Although results with this drug in people did not meet the companies’ expectations, dogs with Lymphoma cancer showed an 80 percent response rate.
According to Dr. Ogilvie’s review of the data, “tentative results look very promising.”
Certainly veterinarians hope to offer much more when it comes to managing pet cancer in the future.
Instead of offering pets increased survival times of several months, vets would prefer to ward off pet cancer for four to five years, offering pet owners affordable solutions that also maximize daily quality of life and minimize adverse effects.
Realistically speaking, prospective data from canine clinical trials is encouraging and the company hopes to offer pets at least a fifty percent increase in survival time.
About Dr. Carol
Dr. Carol is a pet health researcher, a Board Certified Anti-Aging Pet Health Diplomat, a published author and a practicing, holistic veterinarian in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
She welcomes new canine and feline patients.
Dr. Carol also offers pet health consultations and answers pet health questions and makes homemade pet diets by phone and e-mail for her online pet loving community.
Pet owners may contact Dr. Carol directly at her veterinary office toll free at 1-866-372-2765 to make an appointment for their dog(s) and/or cat(s) today.
Bookmark www.carolonpets.com for the latest pet health news, anti-aging tips and updates for your dogs and cats
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