Study shows safety of cancer drug for dogs

New Haven, Conn.-Initial results of a study of dogs with advancedcancers that were treated with intravenous doses of Vion Tapet® vectorindicate anti-tumor response in 24 percent of cases, according to MarioSznol, M.D., Vion vice president of clinical affairs.

Study results were presented by Sznol at the recently concluded ACVIM19th Annual Forum in Denver, who attributed the findings to the study'schief investigator, the late Dr. E. Gregory MacEwen of the University ofWisconsin-Madison (UWM), who died May 12.

The study showed the vector (VNP20009) to be safe to administer in aweekly or twice month schedule and showed it to be a significant factorin tumor reduction in a number of the 33 tested dogs.

Responses included one complete remission in a dog with metastatic melanomaand seven partial responses from dogs with sarcoma and melanoma.

Colleagues of MacEwen plan to continue the study at the UWM School ofVeterinary Medicine.

Tapet is an altered Salmonella vector that is being produced for itspotential to transfer anticancer agents to tumors direct.

For more information on the drug, visit http://www.vionpharm.com.