Blog Archives - ELIAS Animal Health

PODCAST: ELIAS returns to Dog Cancer Answers to Talk About Alternatives to Chemotherapy

ELIAS Animal Health CEO, Tammie Wahaus, returns to the Dog Cancer Answers podcast to talk about ECI® as an alternative treatment to chemotherapy for canine osteosarcoma. Earlier this year the USDA determined that ECI® has demonstrated a reasonable expectation of efficacy, a major milestone in the product licensure pathway. Listen to the episode below to find out what's next for ECI®, or read the full transcript at Dog Cancer Answers online. Listen to more episodes of the Dog Cancer Answers podcast here.

By Jessica Wiley|2024-05-14T12:42:13-06:00April 1st, 2024|Categories: Blog|Tags: canine osteosarcoma, chemotherapy, ECI|0 Comments

New Clinical Trial Will Evaluate Combination Therapy to Treat Canine Lymphoma

After successfully concluding a clinical trial for canine osteosarcoma, ELIAS Animal Health is focused on continuing to push forward in the fight against cancer with a new clinical trial involving combination therapy to treat lymphoma in dogs. The pilot study, which is currently underway, will evaluate ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI®) in combination with VCAA (L- asparaginase, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin) chemotherapy to treat lymphoma in dogs. All trial participants will be treated at a single investigator site for this preliminary study. Prevalence of Lymphoma in Dogs Canine lymphoma is a fairly common type of cancer in dogs. In an article published by VCA Animal Hospitals, authors Malcolm Weir, DVM, MSc, MPH and Catherine Barnette, DVM the disease accounts “for 15-20% of new cancer diagnoses in dogs. It is most common in middle-aged and older dogs, and several breeds are predisposed...” Overview of the Clinical Trial Protocol for Canine Lymphoma Patients [...]

By Tammie Wahaus|2023-11-02T13:40:15-06:00November 2nd, 2023|Categories: Blog, News|Tags: cancer immunotherapy, canine cancer, clinical trial, lymphoma|0 Comments

Pet Cancer Awareness Month and the One Health Connection

Pets bring us immense joy and companionship, making them cherished members of our families. However, just like humans, they too can be affected by cancer. Pet Cancer Awareness Month, observed throughout November, is a reminder of the importance of early detection, prevention, and treatment of cancer in our animal companions. Fittingly, it coincides with One Health Day on November 3, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human and animal health, and the environment we share. Cancer Can Happen to Pets Too Cancer is a complex and devastating disease that can affect any breed, age, or species of pet. Just like in humans, pet cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, forming tumors that can spread to other parts of the body. The most common types of cancer found in dogs include lymphoma, mast cell tumors, and osteosarcoma (bone cancer), while cats are often prone to lymphoma, mammary cancer, and oral cancers. [...]

By Jessica Wiley|2023-10-31T12:32:43-06:00October 31st, 2023|Categories: Blog|Tags: cancer immunotherapy, immunotherapy, one health, translational medicine|0 Comments

Oncolytic Virotherapy in Veterinary Medicine

ELIAS Animal Health previously announced it has in-licensed an oncolytic vaccinia virus treatment for pet animals from Genelux Corporation. The agreement grants ELIAS the worldwide right to development and commercialization of V-VET1 for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer in veterinary medicine. Check out some of the most frequently asked questions about this agreement and what we plan to do with the technology. What is V-VET1? V-VET1 is Genelux Corporation’s clinical-stage animal health product candidate. It is a vaccinia viral strain that selectively replicates in cancer cells to ultimately cause cell death (apoptosis). Who is Genelux Corporation? Genelux is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a pipeline of next-generation oncolytic immunotherapies for human patients suffering from aggressive and/or difficult-to-treat solid tumor types. Learn more about Genelux and their technology at www.genelux.com. What is an oncolytic virus? An oncolytic virus is a virus that can infect and kill cancer [...]

By Jessica Wiley|2023-10-13T13:18:07-06:00October 13th, 2023|Categories: Blog|Tags: clinical trial, oncolytic virus, translational medicine|0 Comments

How Long-Term Patient Registries Support Better Cancer Care

Our mission at ELIAS Animal Health is to improve cancer treatment outcomes in veterinary patients through the advancement of innovative therapies. To do that, it is imperative to understand the long-term outcomes of dogs who undergo the ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI®). Following our randomized controlled trial (RCT) for canine osteosarcoma, we recently launched a long-term patient registry which will collect both long-term survival and quality of life data on dogs who participated in our clinical trials or received ECI outside of clinical trials. What Are Long-Term Patient Registries? Long-term patient registries allow us to observe real-world ongoing outcomes after clinical trials have concluded. ELIAS’ patient registry will provide insight into the quality-of-life dogs experience post-treatment, help us understand the long-term impact of ECI, and deliver data points that may (or may not) impact our understanding of the patient’s outcome. It will also inform our future product development. Specifically, the registry [...]

By Jessica Wiley|2023-04-26T14:52:37-06:00April 26th, 2023|Categories: Blog|Tags: canine osteosarcoma, clinical trial, patient registry|0 Comments

One Health: Leveraging the Intersection of Health Across Our World

January is One Health Awareness Month, which recognizes and promotes the "interconnectedness of the health of people, animals, and the environment." (Forbes.) ELIAS Animal Health was founded to apply the progress that has been made in fighting human cancers in the veterinary space, and then share the findings with our human health counterparts. We follow a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach, aligned with the One Health philosophy about the connections and correlations between the health of people, animals, and the environment. Human and canine cancers share similarities, so research on either side can impact and support the other: TVAX Biomedical is launching a glioblastoma study in the near future. ELIAS’ origins came from the early work and research conducted by TVAX. TVAX and Genelux Corporation, a clinical stage immunotherapy company focused on developing oncolytic virus therapies for humans, have formed a joint venture known as V2ACT Therapeutics™, LLC that will focus on [...]

By Tammie Wahaus|2023-01-24T12:56:03-06:00January 10th, 2023|Categories: Blog|Tags: cancer, clinical trial, one health|0 Comments

Why We Use Cytotoxic T Cells to Attack Cancer

Artist interpretation: Cytotoxic T cells (blue) attack a cancer cell (orange). The immune system hosts an army of white blood cells dedicated to helping the body fight infections. One faction of this army includes T cells, a type of white blood cell that develops from stem cells in bone marrow. There are three main types of T cells that each play a different role in the highly-coordinated defense of the body against illness: Regulatory T cells modulate the immune response and prevent other immune cells from becoming overactive. Helper T cells help activate other immune cells once they detect evidence of a foreign invader, such as a virus or cancer. Killer, or cytotoxic, T cells directly attack and destroy cells they recognize as being foreign. Over the past few decades, advancements in immunotherapy have come a long way, and it is now an important part of treating some [...]

By Jessica Wiley|2022-12-19T14:09:07-06:00December 19th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: adoptive cell therapy, canine cancer, cytoxic t cell, ECI, immunotherapy, killer t cell|0 Comments

ECI®: What to Expect During the T Cell Infusion

The ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI®) is an alternative treatment option to chemotherapy for certain types of canine cancer. ECI is a two-step sequential and interdependent protocol. Step 1 involves priming the patient’s immune system with a personalized vaccine that stimulates an immune response. Step 2 is the activation, expansion and reinfusion of the patient’s cancer antigen-specific T cells which can travel to and attack the cancer cells in the dog’s body. We’re often asked if patients can receive only the vaccines, without T cell infusion. Both steps are essential and play different roles in treatment. Stimulating the immune system isn’t enough to eliminate cancer. The vaccine step primes the immune system to create T cells that can specifically recognize the cancer cells. In the second step of the treatment protocol, these T cells are collected from the blood, and then functionally activated and numerically expanded in the laboratory. Once [...]

By Jessica Wiley|2022-11-17T19:36:13-06:00November 16th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: cancer immunotherapy, canine osteosarcoma, ECI, immunotherapy, t cells|0 Comments

Canine Cancer Resources For Pet Owners

When pets are diagnosed with cancer, pet owners can sometimes feel lost about where to find help and information about their options. The best place to start is the family veterinarian. He or she can answer questions and help families navigate a difficult diagnosis. The family vet can help make referrals to veterinary oncologists, and even provide information about the treatment options available for their pet. Learn About Canine Cancer ELIAS Animal Health is committed to developing better treatment options for animal cancer for pets and their families. To support veterinarians and their clients in the quest for information, we've put together some content that speaks plainly and clearly to dog owners and their care teams. We hope these articles and podcasts serve as a resource for you and your clients. The Connection Between Canine and Human Cancer touches on the cross-collaboration between human and canine cancer researchers and how [...]

By Jessica Wiley|2022-10-24T19:39:28-06:00October 24th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: canine cancer, ECI, immunotherapy, pet owners|0 Comments

National Veterinary Technician Week: Celebrating The Resilience of Those In This Vital Role

National Veterinary Technician Week is celebrated October 16-22, and this year the theme is: “Veterinary Technicians’ Resilience is the Heart of Veterinary Medicine.” Veterinary technicians are the men and women who seamlessly execute veterinary patient care. Serving on the frontlines of animal care, their resiliency and passion to provide the best care for their patients is what makes the veterinary technician role so vital. In human medicine, several people would fill the role of one veterinary technician: nurse, x-ray technician, phlebotomist, EMT, surgical technician…the list goes on. What is a Veterinary Technician? Veterinary technicians are credentialed professionals whose medical knowledge and clinical skills provide routine and emergency care. They work alongside veterinarians to provide the medical care that helps animals live healthy, happy lives. Vet techs play an important role in veterinary patient care. Their attention to detail ensures that each patient receives proper care, no matter what ails them. [...]

By Jessica Wiley|2022-10-10T10:26:07-06:00October 10th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: veterinary technician|0 Comments