HEALTH - First FDA Approved Drug for Dogs With Lymphoma

VetDC, a veterinary cancer therapeutics company, has completed the final steps towards U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) approval for Tanovea™.

Tanovea™ (rabacfosadine for injection) is a novel small molecule drug designed to preferentially target and attack cancer cells implicated in lymphoma, one of the most common cancers seen in companion animals.

In multiple clinical studies in over 300 client-owned dogs with naturally occurring lymphoma, Tanovea has consistently demonstrated robust anti-tumor activity in both naïve and relapsed cases, with a generally well-tolerated safety profile.

Tanovea would be an every-three-week treatment (via intravenous) for up to five doses.

This represents a substantial reduction in client visits relative to non-approved, ‘human’ generic multi-agent chemotherapy regimens commonly utilized in dogs with lymphoma.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for VetDC, as we are now in the home stretch toward introducing the first FDA-approved drug for use in dogs with lymphoma, one of the most common cancers affecting pets today,” Steven Roy, VetDC’s President and CEO, said in a release.

A decision is anticipated within 60 days and upon FDA approval, VetDC intends to begin commercialization in early 2017.