Clinical studies in pets have been contributing to human health for half a century at various veterinary cancer centers across the country, and there are myriad published descriptions of techniques, technologies, and pharmaceuticals that have benefited humans as a result. VERY recently, a small Silicon Valley biotech engaged veterinarians at UC Davis Veterinary School to enroll dogs with BRAIN TUMORS for study of a new compound. A critical number of dogs was recruited within 6 months and the study was completed in a year. Here is a quote from Stephen Cary, CEO of Omniox Pharmaceuticals: “The clinical trial in spontaneous canine brain cancer patients enabled several key points of clinical acceleration for our drug:
- Biodistribution: We established that OMX penetrates very effectively into brain tumor parenchyma; this addressed a major potential concern with neuro-oncologists that the therapeutic must reach tumor cells as sufficient concentrations. A major de-risking of the program.
- Safety, Starting Dose, Patient Selection: We established that single and repeat doses of OMX are well tolerated in combination with standard of care radiotherapy in canine brain cancer patients; these data lead KOLs and FDA to support a plan for OMX to be used at a high starting dose, and in multiple doses, in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients. Because the original plan was to conduct single dose studies in recurrent glioblastoma, the clinical trial in canine brain cancer will save the program 3 to 5 years and millions of dollars.”