An Innovative Approach to Canine Cancer: The vaccine gives hope for a world without cancer

Studies on a novel vaccine that can dramatically lower a dog's risk of developing cancer are promising. The majority of us have witnessed the death of a beloved dog due to cancer, which is the primary cause of death for older dogs. The novel vaccine gives us hope that our canine friends won't develop cancer in the future.

The CEO of Calviri, Stephen Johnston, PhD, began developing a cancer vaccine approximately 15 years ago. "We had some discoveries, and we thought we had a path to do such a thing, but everyone thought it was impossible. They still do, mostly," Johnston tells Daily Paws.

His perseverance paid off, as his studies on mice demonstrated the viability of a vaccine to prevent cancer. Following many years of study and development, a vaccine was produced, and clinical trials got underway. As of right now, pet parents who meet the eligibility requirements can enrol their dogs in the Vaccination Against Canine Cancer Study, the most

recent trial.

The Function of the Vaccine

The canine cancer vaccine targets neoantigens, or "mistakes" made by tumours that have the potential to trigger an immune response, according to Johnston. Johnston's group isolated 30 distinct neoantigens for the vaccine after developing DNA technology to find useful neoantigens among 1.4 million potential candidates. It's not all that different from other vaccinations, according to Johnston. "We vaccinate with the mistakes and prepare the immune system to mount the defence as soon as the tumour arises, so it's just like an infectious disease in that regard."

Positive Outcomes

Although clinical trials are still in progress, preliminary findings indicate that approximately 65% of vaccinated dogs have

fewer tumours overall. According to Johnston, this is just one of many obstacles that must be overcome before the next stage of development can begin.

Although there has been a noticeable decrease in Cushing's syndrome-causing adrenal tumours and mast cell tumours, the vaccine did not prevent all eight cancer types, including hemangiosarcoma. "We now know why—we just didn't put the right components in. So the next version will have components for hemangiosarcoma."

Although there have been positive results, some people are worried that this could trigger an autoimmune reaction. However, according to Johnston, there have been no safety problems during the trials.

Unexpected Advantages

Remarkably, studies have shown a more than 50% decrease in the prevalence of chronic non-cancer diseases like metabolic and arthritic conditions. According to Johnston, this seems to be an unforeseen immunological reaction directed against senescent cells—also referred to as zombie cells. "Senescent cells are thought to be the starting point for most chronic diseases," says Johnston. "Our vaccine is accidentally raising an immune response to get rid of senescent cells."

Canine Cancer Prevention's Future

It could take a year or longer for the vaccine to go through an additional trial and receive USDA approval. Johnston emphasises that the price of the product will be fair when it is made available to the general public, particularly in light of the expensive nature of cancer treatments. "From the beginning, we wanted to make cancer products that everybody

could afford," Johnston explains.

This vaccine has the potential to drastically lower the risk of cancer in dogs, revolutionizing their health. Additionally, it might

open the door to human cancer prevention. Our canine companions and our cancer-free future are getting closer to becoming a reality.