As I write this there’s a tiny senior chihuahua with half an ear snuggled up on my lap, a jack russell sitting at my feet and a kelpie lounging on the couch. The four leggeds outnumber the humans and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Dogs in all their snuggly, wiggly glory are simply the best. Cancer is the polar opposite. Dogs with cancer is the plotline of an absolute tearjerker that leaves you ugly crying over your popcorn. 

Luckily, PharmAust (ASX: PAA) is working to help sick doggos with veterinary clinical trials looking into the efficacy and anti-cancer benefit of novel drug, Monepantel (MPL) on dogs with newly diagnosed B-cell lymphoma. 

The bastards even included pictures of the dogs currently on the medication in their ASX announcement… cue the tears. 

MPL is already approved for veterinary use in food-chain animals, but with evidence of anti-cancer activity, PharmAust is seeking to repurpose the drug to treat canine cancer without the side effects of chemotherapy. 

Currently in Phase 2 trials, the drug has seen early success leading to the continued clinical development to Phase 3 trials. 

Currently 27 dogs have been treated with positive outcomes. Of the 16 dogs with optimum blood levels, 13 achieved stable lesions where the cancer regressed. Side effects were minimal. 

The next Phase of the trial will be conducted across Australia, New Zealand and the US. 

The oncology team at Pathway Vet Alliance led by Dr Meighan Daly DeHart in Texas will oversee the US arm of the trial, having commenced screening and recruitment of pet dogs with cancer. Ten dogs will be treated at The Heart of Texas Veterinary Specialty Centre according to FDA pilot program guidelines. 

Five dogs have been recruited for the New Zealand portion of the trial. 

Several vets and owners elected to keep their dogs on MPL after treatment in the Phase 2 trial, including some in combination with the current standard of care treatment- prednisolone. 

“During Phase 2a and Phase 2b trials Monepantel demonstrated effective anti-cancer activity and minimal side effects, which supports continued development into Phase 3 registration trials,” said principal investigator Dr Kim Agnew (but I think we should call her Dog-tor Kim).

“The combination of MPL with prednisolone, which has provided average extension of survival to these pet dogs of 16-24 weeks, more than doubles the life expectancy than standard of care (palliative steroid therapy) that typically provides for 6-8 week survival in association with a range of adverse events. Pet dogs treated during and after the trial at this optimum level experienced a high quality of life with minimum adverse events.” 

The positive results thus far have prompted PharmAust to begin discussions with an undisclosed leading global pharmaceutical company to assist with the development and subsequent commercialisation of MPL for veterinary cancers. 

Dr Agnew highlighted the Company’s goal with MPL for this indication, saying: “The commercial target is to develop and partner a product that supersedes the current standard of care (prednisolone) and provides a canine lymphoma treatment option that can be administered daily by the owner and enabling excellent quality of life for the dog during treatment.” 

For the June quarter, PharmAust reported positive cash flow of $84,000 and $2.4 million in the bank to fund further research and development of their drugs.