Caught my eye @@adreamer that this links to a Courier Mail article that appears to be availale throughout the entire News Corp stable of publications - this is a significant development on the comms. front IMO. For those interested, this is the article (I've omitted the nice pics included in the original article):

Call for Qld dogs to participate in cancer trial

Researchers are looking for dogs diagnosed with cancer to participate in a new drug trial. HERE’S HOW YOU CAN SIGN UP.

Veterinarians and a pharmaceutical company are on the search for dogs diagnosed with Cancer to participate in a drug trial.

Dr Richard Mollard of PharmAust said there the Perth-based biotechnology company was looking for more dogs diagnosed with B cell lymphoma to participate in Phase IIb of a study to help evaluate a newly formulated anti-cancer drug called Monepantel (MPL), normally used to worm sheep and goats.

The Chief Scientific Officer said there was no known cure for B cell lymphomas, which are a type of blood cancers that can affect the lymph nodes.
“Usually, only 50 per cent of dogs with B cell lymphoma will survive without treatment for around 30 days and the other half will have progressive disease,” he said.

Symptoms of lymphoma, which is a common canine disease, can include swelling or enlarged lymph nodes, lethargy, weight loss and loss of appetite.

Chemotherapy has been the preferred treatment, but relapse can occur within six to 12 months, according to veterinarians.

Dr Mollard, 54, said the next part of the trial follows the completion of a Phase I trial in humans and Phase II and IIa trials in pet dogs with MPL.

“So far, the initial trials in pet dogs with cancer have proven successful,” he said.
“We were pleased to see that in the first trial using the original liquid formula, six of seven dogs achieved stable disease over a prescribed 14-day trial period, with six of seven dogs also showing reductions in their tumour sizes.”

Dr Mollard said no safety issues had been encountered in the first trial of the medication, but that MPL in liquid form had an unpleasant taste.

The drug has since been changed into a tablet for dogs.

“From this trial, using this tablet we were able to identify an optimal dose where anti-cancer activity was maximised,” he said.

“At this dose, one dog’s total tumour burden reduced by over 60 per cent and some of the individual tumours disappeared, all within 14 days.

“It is this dose that we are now taking into the new Phase IIb trial.”

The Speewah resident said the trial hopes to determine the most optimal dose for treatment of the cancer and, ultimately, hopes cancerous tumours will either disappear or be stabilised.

“Monepantel is ... gentle and we would like to see dogs doing well over the first 28-day period, then three and six months, and longer,” he said.

“If this trial determining the optimal prescribed dose is a success, PharmAust will embark on a larger Phase III trial.

“Going forward, owners of pet dogs with B cell lymphoma will then be given a greater choice of treatment options for their dogs.”

Veterinary trial centres are set up in Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales with one in Victoria anticipated to re-join the trial in the future.

The participating vet clinics in Queensland are the Veterinary Specialist Services (VSS) on Lexington Road in Underwood and the Animal Referral Hospital on Seventeen Mile Rocks Rd in Sinnamon Park.

Dogs eligible for the trial can have any have any stage of lymphoma but must weigh more than 11kg, have no other significant concurrent medical problems and have had no treatment in the prior two months.

Pet owners interested in enrolling their dog in the MPL should ask their veterinarian for a referral to their closest trial centre or email [email protected] for more information.