New data for novel bone cancer therapy demonstrates improved outcomes

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New, promising clinical study results for an autologous prescription product used in combination with chemotherapy to treat canine osteosarcoma was announced by ELIAS Animal Health, a companion animal cancer therapeutics company, at the 2025 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum in Louisville, Kentucky. The interim analysis of ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI) demonstrated improved outcomes by combining the initial cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy with the targeted immune-mediated response stimulated by ECI has the potential to enhance overall response and survival rates in dogs with cancer, according to the company.

“The hypothesis of putting a dose of chemotherapy in front of the immunotherapy does appear to produce even better outcomes than what we would have expected,” Tammie Wahaus, CEO of ELIAS Animal Health, said in a dvm360 interview at ACVIM Forum. The oral abstract “Adoptive cell therapy with chemotherapy improves canine osteosarcoma outcomes compared to standard of care chemotherapy,” was presented by Jeffrey N Bryan, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVIM, professor of oncology and associate director of the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri and principal investigator for the pilot trial for ECI, who shared with attendees that the combined therapeutic approach showed improved outcomes and was well-tolerated.¹

In the study, 14 dogs received one dose of carboplatin, which was followed by ECI 21 days later. This treatment group showed the best response, with a 1-year survival rate of 71% compared to 21% in 14 matched control dogs newly diagnosed with osteosarcoma that received 4 doses of carboplatin only, which is the current standard of care, according to ELIAS Animal Health.¹

“We think that’s meaningful. We think it’s exciting, and we look forward to following these dogs to the point where we can report out an 18-month survival rate on an even bigger population of dogs,” Wahaus said.

“We’re excited to share these results at the 2025 ACVIM Forum and look forward to the final study results which are expected in late-2026. We believe this interim analysis provides important clinical insights into how veterinarians treating cancer are integrating ECI into their treatment protocols,” she added in a news release¹

Bryan said that, as a practicing oncologist, there are 2 exciting takeaways with ECI and the latest advancement. “One, it shows that we can combine the type of therapy that our practitioners are used to, chemotherapy with this immunotherapy. Two, it likely gives an expectation that more than half the dogs could be alive a year after you start treatment. And there really are not many options in osteosarcoma that have that kind of likelihood. This, if it holds, continues to be a significant movement of the needle for dogs that suffer from this terrible bone cancer,” he said in a dvm360 interview.

ECI was approved by the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics in March 2025.² The only USDA-approved treatment for canine osteosarcoma, it works as a personalized cancer vaccine that is combined with activated T cells that target cancer cells. ECI is currently available at authorized treatment centers in the US.¹

References

1. New study data on chemo-immunotherapy approach using the ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI) to treat bone cancer in dogs demonstrates improved outcomes. News release. ELIAS Animal Health. June 19, 2025. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://eliasanimalhealth.com/news/eci-combined-with-chemo-shows-improved-outcomes/
2. McCafferty C. USDA approves new canine cancer therapy. dvm360. March 19, 2025. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/usda-approves-new-canine-cancer-therapy