Monoclonal antibodies? Stem cell therapy? Cancer vaccines? The pace and scale of the development of the class of drugs known as biologic therapy or immunotherapy is enormous. In human medicine these drug treatments that mimic the bodys natural defense mechanisms have been around for quite some time-their influence and participation in treating many of the diseases pets endure is just getting started.
Most of us have seen the advertisements for drugs like Humira, an injectable product that treats among other things, psoriatic arthritis in people. This type of therapy is expensive to develop but can be instrumental in giving relief to many human patients. The large investment necessary to develop this drug has made it difficult for many of these same types of biologics to make it to the veterinary market. There have been inroads however and several immunotherapy drugs are on the market to treat certain types of cancers and now, allergic skin disease.
While the cost is still significant, the benefits are often better treatment with less damage to unintended organs or systems. Because these drugs resemble the bodys natural disease fighting antibodies or are derived specifically from the patient they are treating, they not only should cause less side effects but are able to target their intended foe or disease process, unlike some medications like antibiotics that may kill off bad and good bacteria alike.
Zooetis- a major developer of new drugs on the pet side-has recently introduced a biologic that has the promise to be affordable and treat one of the major diseases of dogs-skin allergies or atopy. Cytopoint is a prescription allergy medication given by injection that may last 4 weeks or longer and promises to minimize the intense itching, inflammation and in many cases, infections that this disease brings.
This and other biologics could bring significant relief to pets suffering from skin disease, cancer and many other problems. While the science behind these drugs can be complicated, the results are often better treatments and outcomes with fewer side effects-a good result for people and pets!
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Paper trained: Drug treatments for pets improving - Quad City Times