Olathe, Kan., July 31, 2018 – ELIAS Animal Health, a clinical stage development company advancing novel treatments for cancer in companion animals, shared promising preliminary canine osteosarcoma results for its cancer immunotherapy at the 2018 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum in June. The study indicated its new ELIAS autologous cancer vaccine, featuring a patented combination of vaccine and T cell infusion approach, demonstrated impressive survival times and minimal side effects. This cancer immunotherapeutic is being distributed as an experimental product under 9 CFR 103.3 to veterinarians treating dogs diagnosed with cancer. Efficacy and safety have not been established.
The results were presented by Brian Flesner, D.V.M., Dipl. ACVIM-Oncology, University of Missouri, and highlight continued progress within the immunotherapy arena for the treatment of canine cancer. One in four dogs will be impacted by cancer in their lifetimes and cancer is the No. 1 cause of death in dogs over the age of two.
“There has been growing frustration in the veterinary profession with current treatment options, including chemotherapy and radiation, which have only modestly improved outcomes over the past 20 years,” says Noe Reyes, D.V.M., medical director, ELIAS Animal Health.
“We are very encouraged by the positive treatment outcomes reported by Dr. Flesner at ACVIM and look forward to starting our pivotal osteosarcoma trial evaluating this T cell-based immunotherapy in a broader population. Compared to historical treatment outcomes (amputation and amputation plus chemotherapy), our preliminary results indicate longer median survival times and minimal adverse effects. Seeing metastatic lesions resolve or stay relatively static in some of our patients also highlights the promise of this therapeutic approach for treating cancer in dogs,” adds Dr. Reyes.
Final results from the study will be available in the third quarter of this year, with plans to present at the fall Veterinary Cancer Society (VCS) conference in October. Supporting data from a separate study conducted in collaboration with the Animal Clinical Investigation network of veterinary hospitals will also be presented.
“Completing this clinical trial is a significant milestone for ELIAS,” says Tammie Wahaus, chief executive officer, ELIAS Animal Health. “We are extremely grateful to the clinicians, staff and pet parents for their outstanding commitment and contributions to the development of a new treatment option for canine osteosarcoma. It has been very rewarding to receive such positive feedback from pet parents regarding quality of life, and extended duration of life versus the outcomes they were expecting.”
Wahaus adds, “Pets are increasingly treated as cherished family members including the type of healthcare they receive. Cancer treatment is no exception. Pet parents are proactively searching for new options that bring better outcomes, longer lives and improved quality of life. ELIAS is on a mission to deliver the advanced therapies they seek.”
There are more than 89 million companion dogs in the United States. The healthcare market for companion animals is large and growing worldwide and is particularly attractive in the United States. As recently reported by the American Pet Products Association, $17.07 billion was spent in 2017 on veterinary care in the United States alone, up 7 percent from 2016.
Media contact:
Susan Wright
susan.wright@stephens-adv.com
913.213.6819
Veterinarians interested in more information on the clinical program, please visit www.eliasanimalhealth.com or contact ELIAS at clinicaltrials@eliasah.com. Interested investors may contact info@eliasah.com.
About ELIAS Animal Health Based in Olathe, Kan., ELIAS Animal Health is a medical biotechnology company advancing its novel targeted T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of canine cancers. The ELIAS cancer immunotherapy is being distributed to veterinarians under 9 CFR 103.3 as an experimental product. The company’s novel therapeutic approach offers the promise of improved clinical outcomes and the potential for fundamentally changing the way cancer is treated. For more information, please visit www.eliasanimalhealth.com.