Abbott and Oasmia Pharmaceutical have announced a multi-year agreement to market one of the first cancer medications for dogs. The chemotherapeutic agent, called Paccal Vet (micellar paclitaxel), represents the first generation of treatments of its kind and is currently being studied to treat Grade-II and Grade-III canine mast cell tumours where curative surgery cannot be performed.

Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott will obtain exclusive rights to distribute Paccal Vet for veterinary use in the United States and Canada, and will be responsible for sales and marketing. Oasmia is responsible for clinical development, manufacturing and registration. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Paccal Vet is a new formulation of the active ingredient paclitaxel. Paclitaxel has been used in treating cancer in humans since 1993. Traditional formulations of paclitaxel were insoluble in water, thus requiring the medication to be dissolved in solvents, which led to low tolerability and severe adverse effects in dogs. Paccal Vet uses a novel, non-toxic nanoparticle formulation that overcomes those challenges and provides a high level of water solubility. If approved, Paccal Vet would be one of the first cancer treatments specifically designed for veterinary use.

The move into veterinary oncology adds a new focus area to Abbott's existing Animal Health research and product lines, which include diabetes, anaesthesia, wound care, pain management and fluid therapy.

"There are significant unmet needs in this market, which is why Abbott is entering the veterinary oncology arena," said Lynn Bromstedt, divisional vice president and general manager, Abbott Animal Health. "Paccal Vet would be one the first medications of its kind, and if approved, has the potential to become an important tool for treating Grade-II and Grade-III mast cell tumours - both of which can be life-threatening in dogs."

"Oasmia is pleased to announce this agreement with Abbott for the largest market within veterinary medicine," said Julian Aleksov, chief executive officer, Oasmia. "Abbott brings a well established veterinary sales organization and a long tradition in North America, and this agreement is an acknowledgement of the significant commercial potential of Paccal Vet."

In the United States alone an estimated one million dogs are diagnosed with cancer annually. One out of every four dogs will die of cancer and it is the number one cause of death in dogs over two years of age. Mast cell tumours are among the most common skin tumours in dogs, and are often difficult to manage. Most of these dogs will be treated with surgery, but many patients may require additional or alternative treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Radiotherapy is not widely available, and where it is an option it remains complicated, expensive, and requires the patient to undergo several procedures where anaesthesia is necessary.

With the retinoid based unique platform XR-17, Oasmia developed a water soluble formulation of paclitaxel (Paccal Vet), that does not require premedication and abolishes Cremophor EL related side effects.

Oasmia Pharma develops second and third generation cancer drugs based on nanotechnology for human and veterinary use.