Zomedica, Celsee Inc. partner to deliver cancer liquid biopsy platformDecember 21, 2017Zomedica Pharmaceuticals Corp. has entered into a license and supply agreement with Celsee Inc., an innovator of progressive rare cell capture, characterization, and retrieval products in the emerging field of liquid biopsy. Under the terms of the agreement, Zomedica will have animal health exclusive global rights to develop and market Celsee's liquid biopsy platform for use by veterinarians as a cancer diagnostic. A liquid biopsy is a blood test with the potential to detect the presence of circulating tumor cells in the blood. Circulating tumor cells (CTC) are shed from a primary tumor into neighboring blood vessels and are transported throughout the body's circulatory system. The detection of CTCs in the blood could indicate a cancer diagnosis without the need for an invasive tissue biopsy, according to Zomedica. "Liquid biopsy is cutting-edge technology in human medicine right now and we're excited about the opportunity to develop and market this platform for use in veterinary medicine," stated Gerald Solensky, Jr., CEO at Zomedica. "We selected the Celsee platform because of the ease of use, workflow simplicity, and flexibility to use our novel canine biomarkers. If we successfully develop Celsee's technology, we believe we will be able to …
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Yunnan baiyao for patients with hemorrhage, neoplasiaDecember 11, 2017Herbal remedies are widely available to animal owners as over-the-counter products intended for both human and veterinary use. Some veterinarians prescribe these remedies, usually as part of a broader complementary and alternative medicine approach.
Cornell, Tufts scientists receive $2.5M from NIH for cancer studyNovember 14, 2017Cornell and Tufts University scientists have received a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to use dogs as a model for studying cancer immunotherapies. The dogs used in the study are treated with similar care as human patients, with the potential of being cured of lymphoma. Kristy Richards, Ph.D., MD, associate professor of Biomedical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine with a joint appointment at the Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine is co-principal investigator on the grant, along with Cheryl London, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, a research professor at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. The grant will investigate whether combinations of PD1 inhibitors and other targeted therapies may increase effectiveness of cancer treatment in dogs, thereby setting up the possibility for human trials. Clinical trials in dogs should begin in the next six months, at which time, the researchers will reach out to referring veterinarians for candidate canine patients with lymphoma. Veterinary oncologists at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine and at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Stamford, Conn., will enroll and treat patients during the trials. Patients also will be enrolled at the …
Animal Cancer Foundation receives $1 million for canine cancer genome projectNovember 8, 2017 The Animal Cancer Foundation (ACF), a national nonprofit organization that supports comparative oncology research that studies the similarities between cancers in people and pets to help find cures for both, has received a $1 million dollar donation from the Blue Buffalo Foundation. The grant will provide funding for the Canine Cancer Genome Project (CCGP), which will map the tumor genomes of the most common canine cancers. Understanding the genetic makeup of canine cancer tumors, and comparing their genetic makeup to those of people with cancer, will allow researchers to discover additional targeted drug therapies and the least toxic doses of those therapies that are most effective in curing the individual, whether canine or human, according to ACF. The initiative arose as a result of a review conducted in 2015 by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science and supported in part by ACF that highlighted the value of comparative oncology and the inclusion of veterinary oncologists in accelerating cancer drug development. ACF has pledged to raise an additional $1 million dollars in support of the CCGP. The fundraising effort is supported by Blue Buffalo Foundation, which has partnered with …
Nationwide supports National Pet Cancer Awareness Month through social mediaNovember 8, 2017November is National Pet Cancer Awareness Month, and Nationwide is partnering with the Animal Cancer Foundation to increase awareness and raise funds to fight the number one disease-related killer of dogs and cats. Last year, the company received more than 78,000 pet insurance claims for cancer diagnosis and treatment in pets, making cancer-related conditions one of the most common types of medical claims. In fact, last year members accumulated more than $23 million in medical expenses for pet cancer-related conditions. During the month of November, Nationwide will donate $5 to the Animal Cancer Foundation up to $50,000 for every photo, story, or statistic shared on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using #CurePetCancer (visit curepetcancer.com for more information). The 10 most common pet cancer-related claims, in order, received by Nationwide last year: Malignant skin neoplasia Lymohosarcoma Splenic neoplasia Hepatic neoplasia Bone or joint neoplasia Thoracic neoplasia Bladder neoplasia Anal sac neoplasia Malignant oral neoplasia Brain or spinal cord neoplasia
Zoetis launches Witness FFH test to detect three feline diseasesOctober 4, 2017Zoetis Inc. announced the launch of Witness FFH, a triple test that detects antigens to feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline heartworm, as well as antibodies to feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Witness FFH is a simple, convenient, and cost-effective test that requires no refrigeration and is priced comparably to current FeLV-FIV tests on the market with the added benefit of heartworm testing, the company stated. "Zoetis is committed to delivering high-quality, point-of-care diagnostics to help easily and affordably diagnose conditions or diseases that affect the quality or duration of a pet's life," said Chris Demiris, marketing director, U.S. Diagnostics at Zoetis. "The new Witness FFH test is a rapid, reliable test that helps keep cats healthy." "A shared clinical sign of all three diseases is vomiting, so a triple test helps veterinarians make accurate diagnoses more quickly," said Matthew Krecic, DVM, MS, MBA, DACVIM, senior technical services manager, U.S. Diagnostics at Zoetis. "Sick cats may also have FeLV or FIV; therefore, testing for those concurrent with heartworm is sensible." Veterinarians should consider testing for heartworm infection in cats because clinical signs can be confused with those of many other diseases, including feline asthma, …
Michigan specialty veterinary care center seeks dogs for cancer studySeptember 19, 2017 Oakland Veterinary Referral Services (OVRS) specialty veterinary care center is conducting a nationwide study on dogs with canine splenic hemangiosarcoma (HSA) and the benefits of using traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM) as treatment to significantly extend life expectancy. Erin Bannink, DVM, DACVIM, VCHM, CVA, is leading the study, according to Lucy Henney, DVM, DACVS, owner of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based OVRS. Most dogs diagnosed with HSA are treated by removal of the spleen after the tumor has ruptured and bled, causing life-threatening blood loss; most dogs living only two months after surgery due to the spread of cancer to other organs, according to Dr. Bannink. Because of HSA's aggressive nature, chemotherapy is usually recommended after surgery in the hope of prolonging life, but it only modestly prolongs survival, and most dogs still die of cancer spread within three to four months of diagnosis, she said. "The purpose of this study is to determine if treatment with a specific herbal therapy regimen is helpful in prolonging survival time after surgery in dogs with HSA and no evidence of cancer spread," said Bannink. "We hypothesize that dogs treated with this standardized protocol after splenectomy will have …
Researchers back comparative oncology to solve shared kid, dog cancersAugust 9, 2017Top cancer researchers and leaders in pediatric and veterinary medicine gathered for the first-ever Paws for a Cure Summit, hosted by Canines-N-Kids Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes research for the benefit of both kids and dogs with cancer, to discuss barriers and find solutions for enhancing collaborative efforts aimed at finding cures.
Orofacial manifestations of lymphoma in petsJuly 27, 2017The disease covered in this month’s column qualifies as rare. Each year, I see perhaps only two or three cases. However, it’s important to understand, as it can mimic other less serious diseases, often delaying diagnosis. One retrospective study noted that median time between onset and diagnosis was five months.
Dog noses as a diagnostic copilot?July 14, 2017It's no secret that dogs, through the wonders of their noses, can identify several types of cancers, including prostrate, breast, colon, lung, thyroid and ovarian cancers, and melanoma.
