The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given conditional approval to the first oral treatment for dogs that suffer from lymphoma -- a type of cancer that attacks the lymphatic system.
The FDA says the treatment drug, called Laverdia-CA1 (verdinexor), helps stop the spread of cancerous cells by bolstering important proteins. Dog owners will be able to give their pet the treatment at home after getting a prescription from their veterinarian and reading the safety directions on the client information sheet.
“Lymphoma is a devastating cancer in dogs, with few FDA-approved treatments available. This conditional approval provides a much-needed option to treat dogs with lymphoma,” said Steven M. Solomon, the director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. “We are encouraged to see drug companies bring forward applications for products to treat serious diseases, even if they affect relatively small populations.”
Laverdia-CA1 is the second overall treatment for lymphoma in dogs, with the first being an injectable drug called Tanovea-CA1 that was approved back in 2016.
Follow safety guidelines
The package for Laverdia-CA1 includes detailed safety information and special instructions for consumers who obtain it from a veterinarian. Among them are provisions to wear gloves while handling the drugs and while cleaning up after a dog that is undergoing treatment.
Pregnant women, women that may become pregnant, nursing women, and children are also advised not to handle or administer the drug -- or to clean up after dogs that are taking the treatment.
A full freedom of information summary can be found on the FDA’s site here. Consumers seeking more information can also contact the agency at 888-INFO-FDA.