LOS ANGELES, June 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Anivive, a pet
health technology company transforming the therapeutic discovery
and development process, today announced positive results from a
study on its groundbreaking fungal vaccine for Valley Fever in
dogs. The primary endpoint of the study was met, with the vaccine
affording protection in 100% of vaccinated dogs, preventing
clinical disease.
In this randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study, Anivive's
vaccine was administered to dogs who were then challenged with a
disease-causing strain of Coccidioides, the fungus that
causes the systemic fungal disease, Valley Fever. The dogs also
received a booster one month later. When compared to unvaccinated
controls, with a mean disease score of 123.7, the three dose groups
vaccinated with avirulent Coccidioides spores (Δcps1), had
mean composite disease scores of 9.5, 10.7, and 11.7,
respectively.
These study results indicate that vaccinated dogs did not
develop clinical signs of Valley Fever. Vaccinated dogs in all
groups had their fungal burdens, radiographic abnormalities, gross
and histopathological lung lesions greatly reduced in comparison to
unvaccinated controls (p=0.0002).
"This study provides important data that validates our model and
demonstrates the ability of the vaccine to afford protection
against exposure to an extremely virulent fungal pathogen," said
Anivive Chief Medical Officer David
Bruyette, DVM, DACVIM. "To date, no vaccine exists to
protect against systemic fungal disease, so this is an important
step forward in our progress to develop a vaccine for Valley Fever
and other fungal diseases in animals and humans."
The Anivive team is using breakthrough gene deletion technology
to remove CPS1, a gene key to
Coccidioides' ability to produce disease, to create a
modified fungal organism for the vaccine. Clinical studies are
proving that the modified organism, while unable to spread,
provokes a strong immune reaction in mice and dogs. The vaccine is
designed to be given as injection, the same way dogs receive other
vaccines, with two injections the first year and a single booster
annually.
Valley Fever is caused by inhaling Coccidioides, found
most commonly in the soil of the Western and Southwestern United States. Symptoms in humans
resemble those of the flu, but dogs are more likely to develop more
severe disseminated forms of the disease. More than 30 million dogs
live in or travel to parts of the country where Valley Fever is
prevalent, highlighting the importance of developing a vaccine to
prevent disease. While antifungal therapies exist, they most
commonly require costly life-long treatments with harsh side
effects.
Anivive's work with Dr. John
Galgiani and his research team at the Valley Fever Center
for Excellence at the University of
Arizona College of Medicine was featured in a recent
Scientific American story. Anivive's technology is also
pushing the envelope on over eight therapeutics in their pipeline.
To learn more, visit: https://anivive.com/treatments.
Disclaimer: The results of the efficacy study for the
therapeutic claim stated in this press release have not been
reviewed by the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics.
About Anivive
Anivive is reinventing the drug development process in pet
pharma. Our proprietary software accelerates the delivery of new,
affordable treatments for pets.
Backed by over $45 million in seed
funding, Anivive has gained conditional approval for LAVERDIA™-CA1
(verdinexor), the first oral tablet to treat canine lymphoma and
created a specialty sales force dedicated to supporting
veterinarians. Anivive's pipeline includes 8+ first-in-class
pharmaceuticals, biologics, and vaccines. For more information on
how we address unmet needs for pets, visit anivive.com.
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SOURCE Anivive Lifesciences Inc.