With an aim toward dramatically strengthening efforts to prevent, treat and cure canine disease, Pfizer Animal Health and the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Health Foundation, Inc. have formed an exclusive research partnership.

Partnership will focus on future discoveries in canine nutrition, genetics and disease. The new alliance in which Pfizer Animal Health is the sole biopharmaceutical partner of the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), providing an initial commitment of $ 500,000 over two years, will focus on both basic and applied research initiatives, as well as sharing leadership and scientific expertise.

The collaboration is part of Pfizer Animal Health's ongoing commitment to veterinarians supporting veterinarians through training and education, research and development, and investing in the future of the veterinary profession.

"Pfizer Animal Health is the premier, world-renowned pharmaceutical company dedicated to veterinary medicine," says Terry T Warren, PhD, JD, chief executive officer and general counsel for CHF. "We are excited about the possibilities that this new alliance will bring to enhancing research related to prevention, treatment and cure of canine disease and how this supports veterinarians, the animals they care for and their owners."

Pfizer Animal Health and CHF already have a successful history of working together on numerous canine health research initiatives, including the canine comparative oncology and genomics consortium housed at the National Cancer Institute, as well as Pfizer Animal Health's novel treatment for canine mast cell tumors.

"What this new alliance offers in addition to funding important canine research is significant," says David Haworth, director of Global Alliances, Pfizer Animal Health. "We have the opportunity to gain enormous insights and be a part of pursuing scientific discoveries that not only impact animals, but also may involve translational medicine that impacts humans."

As part of the new partnership, Dr Haworth and Karen Greenwood, director, Pfizer Companion Animal Internal Medicine Unit, have joined the CHF Board of Directors and Grants Committee, respectively. Together, Pfizer Animal Health and CHF will determine new avenues of research and establish a portfolio of grants that will most effectively influence the health of dogs.