Canine oncology drug featured in Emmy-nominated documentary

A documentary highlighting the role of canine cancer drugs in human medicine is generating awareness for comparative oncology. The program, Shelter Me: The Cancer Pioneers, was recently brought more prominently into the national spotlight with a pair of 2025 Daytime Emmys nominations.¹

Shelter Me: The Cancer Pioneer premiered on PBS in December 2024 and is now available for viewing through the network’s streaming services. Created by Steven Latham Productions as part of the Shelter Me film series presented by Petco Love, it features veterinarians and other health experts as the curtain is peeled back to show the investigative work in comparative oncology at the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Illinois, the University of Wisconsin and Colorado State University with oncology research.¹

The film also shares “intimate, emotional, and hopeful” stories of dogs with cancer and undergoing advanced immunotherapy treatments in clinical trials, according to the production company. The experiences of these canines illustrate they and researchers are working to advance human cancer care through comparative oncology.¹

"This is one of the most uplifting and consequential stories we've ever shared," Steven Latham, creator and producer of the "Shelter Me" series, said in a news release.²"Through their courage and loyalty, these dogs are helping us unlock a better future for human cancer patients."

One of the therapies featured in the film is OST-HER2, a drug from OS Therapies used to treat canine cancer that is in development for treating osteosarcoma in humans. “We have a great opportunity to address a very deadly disease in canine veterinary medicine. The trials that we've done, both in humans and in canines, are very safe and seem to extend life and control the disease,” Paul Romness, MPH, chairman and CEO of OS Therapies, said in a dvm360 interview. “The genetic makeup of osteosarcoma in canines and humans is like 99% exact.”

According to Romness, osteosarcoma is very rare in humans but much more prevalent—and deadly—in canines. “In dogs, it's approaching 100% fatality within 12 months. In humans, 10% of the kids [with osteosarcoma] pass away. Of the 90% [of children] that survive the 9 months of chemotherapy, half of them go on to live their life with the side effects of chemotherapy and the surgery” he said.

OST-HER2 works by using the immune-stimulatory effects of Listeria to initiate a strong immune response targeting the HER2 protein, according to OS Therapies.³ The drug has the potential to not only extend lifespan but improve quality of life as well, Romness noted in the interview. “This is a great example of where we could really have the dogs lead humans. And if it's out on the market for canines, it's a great proof of concept for the FDA to understand that they really need to have this available for kids too,” he said of the drug.

OS Therapies recently announced the FDA has granted OST-HER2 a second Type C Meeting. This meeting—scheduled for December 11, 2025—would follow a successful Phase 2b clinical trial with the goal of aligning the clinical efficacy data endpoints in support of a Biologics Licensing Application under the Accelerated Approval Program for the drug.³

The nearly 90-minute documentary addressing osteosarcoma with a One Health approach was nominated for Outstanding Daytime Special and Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Non-Fiction Program. Daytime Emmy Awards winners were announced Friday, October 17, 2025, by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. In those categories, Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade and Black Barbie, respectively, were named the winners.⁴ Although Shelter Me: The Cancer Pioneers did not take home either trophy, the nominations have generated recognition for the human-animal bond in oncology research and development.

"We are incredibly honored by these nominations," Latham, said in a news release.¹ "This film is about heroes, both humans and canine, working together to bring hope to millions of people. The Daytime Emmy Award recognition…bring attention to these inspiring stories."

References

1. Shelter Me: The Cancer Pioneers nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards. Shelter Me. July 11, 2025. Accessed October 20, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shelter-me-the-cancer-pioneers-nominated-for-two-daytime-emmy-awards-302503073.html
2. Shelter Me: The Cancer Pioneers premieres on PBS streaming today. Shelter Me. May 15, 2025. Accessed October 20, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shelter-me-the-cancer-pioneers-premieres-on-pbs-streaming-today-302455856.html
3. COS Therapies granted final Type C Meeting by US FDA and pre-MAA meeting by UK MHRA for OST-HER2 in the prevention or delay of recurrent, fully resected, pulmonary metastatic osteosarcoma. OS Therapies. October 17, 2025. Accessed October 20, 2025. https://ir.ostherapies.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/86/os-therapies-granted-final-type-c-meeting-by-u-s-fda-and
4. 52nd annual Daytime Emmy Awards winners. National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. October 2025. Accessed October 20, 2025. https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-Daytime-Emmy-Winners-Release-FOR-WEB.pdf