The biotechnology company, Advaxis, has been developing new immunotherapies and cancer and infectious diseases for a number of years.
Their veterinary program is evaluating a listeria-based vaccine for the treatment of osteosarcoma in dogs. In cooperation with the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, they are beginning clinical trials with the listeria-based vaccine.
Listeria is a food-borne infectious bacteria that even survives refrigeration and freezing. It is commonly found in deli meats that have not been properly processed and in unpasteurized milk products.
Dr. Yvonne Patterson, Professor of Microbiology, Associate Dean of Postdoctoral Research and Director of the Biomedical Postdoctoral Program at the University of Pennsylvania, came up with the idea of modifying and using listeria to stimulate the immune system to recognize cancer cells as foreign objects and attack them. Hopefully this will increase survival time for dogs with osteosarcoma.
For information on clinical trials for dogs with OSA, please contact Dr. Nicola Mason at [email protected].
