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

ELIAS Animal Health In-Licenses Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Treatment for Pet Animals from Genelux Corporation

Agreement grants ELIAS Animal Health the worldwide right to development and commercialization of V-VET1 for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer in veterinary medicine Nov. 18, 2021 -- Genelux Corporation, a clinical-stage immunotherapy company, recently announced a licensing agreement with ELIAS Animal Health for V-VET1, its clinical-stage animal health product candidate. V-VET1 is a vaccinia viral strain which selectively replicates in cancer cells causing cell death (apoptosis). ELIAS Animal Health is planning clinical trials to evaluate and develop V-VET1 as a potential new immunotherapy option for veterinary oncologists. “We are thrilled to announce our exclusive license for V-VET1 to help veterinarians treat the many pets who are diagnosed with cancer every year,” said Tammie Wahaus, CEO of ELIAS Animal Health. “Companion animal cancer treatments have made little progress in the past few decades, and this partnership is an exciting step in broadening the cancer treatment options available in veterinary medicine.” [...]

By |2022-01-08T14:32:44-06:00November 18th, 2021|Categories: News|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Long-term bone cancer survivor and ECI® patient featured on local news

Ruby the Greyhound was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in December 2016 and began the ELIAS cancer immunotherapy (ECI®). Today, Ruby is thriving and her story was recently featured on a Kansas City local news channel. Learn more about Ruby, one of five long-term survivors from the ELIAS preliminary study. Read the story  

By |2020-11-19T20:05:29-06:00November 19th, 2020|Categories: News|Tags: , |0 Comments

Clinical study results demonstrate long term survival in dogs with osteosarcoma treated with ELIAS cancer immunotherapy

Results of a clinical study of the ELIAS cancer immunotherapy (ECI®) protocol demonstrated that the administration of an autologous cancer cell vaccination, adoptive T cell transfer, and interleukin‐2 resulted in long‐term survival for dogs with osteosarcoma, a deadly form of bone cancer. The article, published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine by researchers from the University of Missouri, describes the 14-dog single-arm prospective study and discusses the results. The objective of the study was to evaluate the hypothesis that dogs could be treated safely with the ECI protocol, which includes administration of ex vivo activated T cells, and experience survival times twice that of amputation alone. Median survival time for dogs in the study was 415 days, with one dog developing metastasis then experiencing spontaneous complete remission. Read the full study results. In May, ELIAS Animal Health announced the initiation of a follow-up study to pursue licensure of ECI [...]

ELIAS Animal Health announces clinical trial launch: ECI-OSA-04 for the treatment of canine osteosarcoma

Olathe, Kan., May 28, 2020 – ELIAS Animal Health, a clinical stage development company advancing novel treatments for cancer in companion animals, today announced the initiation of a follow-up study to pursue licensure of the ELIAS cancer immunotherapy (ECI®) treatment combined with surgery as an alternative to chemotherapy for dogs diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a deadly form of bone cancer. In a preliminary clinical study, the median survival time was 415 days, compared to 270-300 days for traditional chemotherapy treatments, suggesting that ECI holds the potential to significantly improve survival times and quality of life for the canine patient. This clinical trial will enroll dogs that have been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, but have not yet been treated for their cancer. It will be a two-arm study with a 1:1 randomization comparing ECI and carboplatin, a type of chemotherapy. ELIAS is providing financial assistance that will substantially cover costs of participation and treatment [...]

By |2020-06-16T10:15:26-06:00May 28th, 2020|Categories: News|Tags: , , |0 Comments

ELIAS Animal Health Clinical Dataset Supports FDA Fast Track Designation for TVAX Biomedical

Exciting progress in the fight against cancer for both pets and humans On April 27, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the application by our development partner, TVAX Biomedical, for Fast Track Designation for treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) with the immunotherapy technology ELIAS Animal Health is also using for treatment of osteosarcoma in dogs. Founded on the principle of translational medicine, ELIAS is especially pleased to have supported this major achievement. The efficacy and safety data from the previously completed canine osteosarcoma study conducted by ELIAS was an important component of the TVAX Fast Track application and we are pleased that the results of that study contributed to the FDA’s approval of the GBM Fast Track application. This is a significant accomplishment in that Fast Track Designation is not easily granted by the FDA and requires TVAX to provide evidence of its ability to successfully treat a [...]

ELIAS Animal Health and BodeVet announce new collaboration

Olathe, Kan., June 6, 2019 – ELIAS Animal Health, a clinical stage development company advancing novel treatments for cancer in companion animals, and BodeVet, a Maryland-based company focused on the development of novel blood products for use in veterinary transfusion and regenerative medicine, have announced a joint effort to significantly expand the availability of ELIAS’ ECI® treatment for canine cancer via the mobile apheresis capabilities of BodeVet. Apheresis is a processing procedure that separates blood into different components and, in this case, yields the T cells critical to the ELIAS treatment protocol. Currently, there are twelve locations offering apheresis for pets. BodeVet offers a mobile service that will enable veterinary oncologists in most major cities in the United States to incorporate ECI® into their specialty hospital portfolio of oncology services, expanding beyond chemotherapy and radiation. Working together, ELIAS and BodeVet are committed to promoting animal health and welfare by developing [...]

ELIAS Animal Health featured on Worldwide Business with kathy ireland®

Olathe, Kan., May 15, 2019 – ELIAS Animal Health, a Kansas City company dedicated to improving the treatment options for companion animals diagnosed with cancer, will be featured on Worldwide Business with kathy ireland®. Distributed internationally as sponsored content, you can view a highlight video below.      The full interview will air on the following channels: Americas: Fox Business Network May 19, 2019, 5:30 p.m. EST Europe & Africa: Bloomberg EMEA Saturday, May 18, 2019, 7:30 p.m. GMT Asia: Bloomberg Asia Sunday, May 19, 2019, 10:30 a.m. D.F. and 3:00 p.m. HKT

By |2019-06-11T21:23:44-06:00May 16th, 2019|Categories: Press Releases|Tags: , |0 Comments

Companion animal access to immunotherapy treatments trails human medicine

Immunotherapy treatments are a hot topic in the area of treating human malignancies, which begs the question in the minds of many pet owners whose dogs or cats are diagnosed with cancer: where are these therapies for the four-legged members of the family? There are several barriers to making immunotherapies available in the veterinary space. However, a recent article in Veterinary Practice News by Hans Klingemann, MD, PhD, details some of these challenges and highlights the work being done by ELIAS Animal Health to overcome such barriers. “While patient survival outcomes using traditional cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation have not significantly changed in the past couple of decades, they still remain the proven standard of care used by veterinary oncologists,” said Noe Reyes, Chief Medical Officer for ELIAS. “There is a significant unmet need for safer and more effective therapies to treat cancer. Immunotherapies, including adoptive T cell [...]

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