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 |2023-11-02T13:40:15-06:00November 2nd, 2023|Categories: Blog, News|Tags: , , , |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 |2023-10-31T12:32:43-06:00October 31st, 2023|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , |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 |2022-11-17T19:36:13-06:00November 16th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

ELIAS Animal Health Research Demonstrates Cancer-Killing Capabilities of Its Activated T Cell Immunotherapy

In vitro study of the ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI®) showed personalized T cell immunotherapy initiated a significant immune response against target cancer cells. OLATHE, Kan., August 10, 2022 -- ELIAS Animal Health recently presented new mechanism of action data for the ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI®) at the 2022 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum. ECI is an adoptive cell therapy that stimulates a patient’s immune system to recognize and attack cancers. ECI uses a personalized vaccine made from a patient’s own cancer cells to “prime” the immune cells to recognize the cancer. These primed immune cells—which are collected from the patient through a procedure called apheresis—are activated and expanded ex vivo for reinfusion into the patient, where they travel to the cancer cells and attack them. In vitro study demonstrates how vaccine-primed T cells mount an immune response against cancer cells [...]

PODCAST: ELIAS CEO talks immunotherapy and canine osteosarcoma on Dog Cancer Answers

ELIAS Animal Health CEO, Tammie Wahaus, was a recent guest on the Dog Cancer Answers podcast to discuss how the ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI) works, the role of a healthy immune system in successful immunotherapy, and why we chose to focus on canine osteosarcoma first. Listen to the episode below, or read the full transcript at Dog Cancer Answers online. Listen to more episodes of the Dog Cancer Answers podcast here.  

By |2022-10-20T13:12:00-06:00June 1st, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

An Entrepreneur’s Journey: Can Cancer in Dogs Be Treated Without Chemotherapy?

Entrepreneurs look to solve problems.  Needs spark ideas, ideas spark innovation, and innovation births new companies. We founded ELIAS Animal Health to transform cancer treatment for pets by bring the state-of-the-art therapeutics benefiting humans into the animal world. Chemotherapy has been the standard of care treatment for dogs with cancer for decades. Until recently, it was often the only option available. Chemo kills cancer cells but because it’s so powerful, it damages surrounding healthy cells and ravages the body. Our goal was to find an alternative way to treat canine cancer, one that is effective and less taxing on our canine counterparts. Millions and millions of dollars fund human cancer research and treatment, but our pets traditionally haven’t benefited from it the same way that people have. At ELIAS, we collaborate with our peers in human health to apply the advancements in immunotherapy to animals. Our goal is to bring [...]

By |2022-07-17T13:55:02-06:00March 3rd, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: , |0 Comments

ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy Gives Dogs with Osteosarcoma More Days at Home

Recent advancements in canine cancer treatment offer the potential for better outcomes, especially the advancements in immunotherapy treatments. A discussion of the ELIAS cancer immunotherapy (ECI®) for the treatment of canine osteosarcoma in Clinician's Brief pointed out that "ECI is the only 2-step immunotherapy in veterinary medicine that has the potential to match or exceed the current standard of care while reducing or eliminating the need for chemotherapy." The article, "Osteosarcoma Immunotherapy for More Days at Home," discusses the evidence-based science behind ECI, the potential benefits over chemotherapy, and how referring veterinarians play an active and vital role in the care continuum. Read the full article at Clinician's Brief online.

By |2022-03-16T17:51:21-06:00February 22nd, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Canine Cancer Continuum | Part 3: How Immunotherapy Works

In this final installment of the Canine Cancer Continuum, we talk about immunotherapy - what it is, how it works, and how it can help in the fight against cancer. (Check out Part 1 and Part 2.) “Without an immune system, we would have no way to fight harmful things that enter our body from the outside or harmful changes that occur inside our body. The main tasks of the body’s immune system are: to fight disease-causing germs (pathogens) like bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi, and to remove them from the body, to recognize and neutralize harmful substances from the environment, and to fight disease-causing changes in the body, such as cancer cells.” (National Institutes of Health) In a nutshell, our immune systems are powerful mechanisms designed to protect us and keep us healthy. They work 24/7 to fight off external threats, like viruses and environmental stressors, and internal threats, like stresses to normal [...]

By |2022-10-20T12:48:07-06:00February 4th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: , |0 Comments

Canine Cancer Continuum | Part 2: The Connection Between Canine and Human Cancer

We’re halfway through a series exploring canine cancer. Last week, we discussed the prevalence of dog cancer, and today we will explore the connection between it and human cancer. Human cancer research is extensive. Almost anyone I encounter has either battled cancer themselves or has journeyed that path with someone close to them. Many people are surprised to learn that one in four dogs are diagnosed with cancer and that it’s the leading cause of death in canines. ELIAS Animal Health applies the advancements in human immunotherapy to dogs. They’re good models. From a scientific perspective, we are able to gather data more quickly than in human research because dogs have a shorter lifespan and cancer progresses more quickly in them. From a “we love our furry friends” perspective, we want to bring needed therapies into the veterinary marketplace that help people. ELIAS Cancer Therapies Are Being Simultaneously Developed for Humans [...]

By |2023-01-24T19:57:18-06:00January 27th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Canine Cancer Continuum | Part 1: The Prevalence of Dog Cancer

We’re embarking on a 3-part series that explores dog cancer, how our research and progress can be applied to humans, what immunotherapy is, and why it can be so effective. “Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs and as a rank order, higher than people…” - Dr. Doug Thamm Dogs live in the same environments as humans, exposed to the carcinogens that their owners are. It’s not surprising, then, that one in four dogs is diagnosed with cancer, and it’s the leading cause of death in pets beyond middle age (Veterinary Cancer Society). Dogs experience cancer at rates that are comparable to or exceed those in humans. Canine cancer has primarily been treated the same way for decades - with chemotherapy. Dr. Carolyn Henry, Dean of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, has said she is “frustrated by the fact that we don’t see many new therapies coming [...]

By |2022-05-30T12:01:26-06:00January 20th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , |0 Comments
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