BY: SAMANTHA BARTLETT, DVM
A new treatment for canine lymphoma, developed by Anivive, has been conditionally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Anivive is a pharmaceutical startup that uses software to speed up development of new therapy options for pets. The lymphoma pharmaceutical is called Laverdia-CA1 and is an oral tablet designed for at-home twice weekly therapy of canine lymphoma.
The product uses SINE technology to inhibit Exportin-1 (XPO1), which block the export of tumor suppressor proteins. By inhibiting XPO1, the drug restores the cell’s anti-cancer defenses. Laverdia-CA1 is effective for both B-cell and T-cell lymphoma in new diagnoses and cases of relapse. Common side effects include vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, weight loss and lethargy. Because the treatment has a different mechanism of action from other cytotoxic treatments of lymphoma, it does not cause bone marrow suppression.
The effectiveness of Laverdia =-CA1 was explored in a study of 58 client-owned dogs with B- or T-cell lymphoma. Seventeen of the dogs had no progression of lymphoma for 56 days after taking Laverdia-CA1. Of those seventeen, three did not show progression after 182 days.
Prescribing veterinarians are provided with detailed user safety information and instructions for handling and administering the drug. A client information sheet is also provided and explains how to handle and safely clean up after the dog while undergoing treatment. Clean up during treatment includes handling food and water bowls, feces, urine, vomit or saliva from the dog and should continue throughout treatment and for three days after treatment.
Conditional approval from the FDA means that the drug will be available for use in dogs while the company continues to perform clinical trials in an effort to receive full approval from the FDA. Anivive has several projects in the works including a vaccine for fungal infection causing Valley Fever in canines and a treatment for FIP. The company is also exploring the use of Laverdia-CA1 in dogs with osteosarcoma.
