The classic drug development path
New compounds are usually tested pre clinically in mice for efficacy and then in large animals for toxicity. Therapeutic index at the end is evaluated in clinical trials.
How anticancer drugs and treatment strategies reach clinical veterinary oncology
After proven efficacy in human medicine drugs and strategies are down streamed to veterinary medicine.
Status of the anti cancer fight
The situation is still far away from being satisfying. Survival rate is still poor, Success is measured in weeks and months of prolonged survival rather than in years or cure. Many promising drugs desperately fail in the clinical setting.
A reason - the gap in the drug development path
The whole drug development is still mainly based based on rodent models of cancer. A large phylogentic gap between preclinical used rodent models and human patients does often not allow upscale of drugs. Even highly developed preclinical rodent models fail to mirror complex cancerogenesis in humans.
| Human Patient | Rodent Model | |
| Age | Aged | juvenile |
| Cancerogenesis | Spontaneous | Induced |
| Immune Status | Competent |
Non Competent Competent if syngeneic |
| Tumor/Host Relation | Syngeneic |
Xenogeneic (Syngeneic) |
| Tumor Size (absolute) | Large |
Small |
|
Heterogeneity/Complexitiy
|
Heterogeneous Complex |
Less Heterogenous Less Complex |
|
Pharmacokinetics & Dynamics |
Different |
Different |
Table 1: Comparison of relevant features of human cancer patients and rodent models of cancer.
A Solution-Clinical Comparative Oncology Studies
Closing the gap
Various authors e.g. Schiffman et. al. 2015 have proven the remarkable similarity concerning all aspects of cancer between pet dogs/cats and human cancer patients. Including pet patients in the drug development pathway promises to close the gap and tremendously increase success rate of drug development.
Comparative oncology: what dogs and other species can teach us about humans with cancer (Schiffmann et. al. 2015)
Table 2. Comparison of relevant features of human and pet cancer patients.
| Human Patient | Pet Patient | |
| Age | Aged | Aged |
| Cancerogenesis | Spontaneous | Spontaneous |
| Immune Status | Competent | Competent |
| Tumor/Host Relation | Syngeneic | Syngeneic |
| Tumor Size (absolute) | Large | Large |
|
Heterogeneity/Complexitiy
|
Heterogeneous Complex |
Heterogeneous Complex |
|
Pharmacokinetics & Dynamics |
Similar |
Similar |
Our service for the pharmaceutical Industry
We are the first company world wide to commercially offer clinical comparative oncology studies for the benefit of human and animal health.
Study Design
Prior to initiating a study we will check if a matching pet disease is described and present in sufficient numbers amongst the patients of the small animal hospital.
Patient Recruitment
Matching Patient cohorts are recruited amongst the patients of our partner animal hospitals.
Owner compliance
Owner communication and compliance is ensured.
Ethical Approval from authorities
Together with our partners we take care to obtain ethical approval by respective authorities
State of the art treatment and patient care
Patient care is ensured by to level Diplomates of the European College of Veterinary Oncology and Veterinary Surgery. Similar to human patients treatment schemes comprise surgery, radiation therapy, chemo and immuno chemotherapy.
Analysis and Diagnosis
State of the art analysis and diagnosis equipment is used. The translational aspect is especially addressed by including clinically well established diagnostic modalities such as PET/CT or PET/MRI in the data analysis.
Data Analysis
Our partners have extensive experience in Data analysis and provide support as per your convenience.
Your benefit
PET animals have a huge socio economic impact. As family members or house mate they contribute to their owners health and well being. Therefore involved animal patients are specifically regarded as patients and not as experimental animals. Special emphasis is drawn on the interests of these animals and their owners to ensure best care.
- Evidence how your product performes in a clinical setting
- The data provides a thorough risk assessment with respect to initiation of human clinical trials
- Successful completion of comparative oncology trials opens the lucrative veterinary market for your product
References
- Zimmermann et. al. (2016) A pilot trial of doxorubicin containing phosphatidyldiglycerol based thermosensitive liposomes in spontaneous feline soft tissue Sarcoma. Int J Hyperthermia. 2016 Sep 25:1-13
- Seiler et. al. (2015) Comparative Oncology: Evaluation of 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography/ Computed Tomography (PET/CT) for the Staging of Dogs with Malignant Tumors. PLoS ONE 10(6): e0127800. doi:10.1371/journal
- Lindner et. al. (2017) Optimized Thermosensitive Doxorubicin Liposomes for Neoadjuvant Treatment of Locally Advanced Soft Tissues Sarcoma (STS) – A Proof of Concept Study in Spontaneous Feline Fibrosacoma.Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS), 8.-11. November 2017, Maui, USA
- Zimmermann et. al. (2016) Evaluation of doxorubicin containing phosphatidyldiglycerol (DPPG2) based thermo-sensitive liposomes for the treatment of spontaneous feline soft tissue sarcomas, ICHO, 11. – 15.04.16, New Orleans
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