Guardians of the Pet Galaxy: How Biologics are Turning Vets into Superheroes!

Someone once said –

“To us, our pets might just be a small part of our life; but to them, we are their whole life”

If only my PI could see the look of sheer betrayal on my cat’s face every time I head out the door... I’m convinced he’d finally approve of me working from home.

Leaving your pet behind while you set out to build your career (which puts food in their bowls, by the way), is only one of the tougher aspects of adulting. But there’s something even more heart-wrenching: noticing them struggle with illness or discomfort. And this could range from a random wheezing episode to recurrent rashes and itching–––or dare I say it, the big C.

Fortunately for us, the world of veterinary medicine is buzzing with exciting developments! A range of innovative biologics is currently being developed and tested to give our beloved pets the best possible care. We’ve compiled some of the key advancements below to keep you in the loop:

Vaccines – The Personal Trainers for your pet’s immune system

1.???? Modified Live Vaccines (MLVs)

These vaccines contain the live but highly weakened (“attenuated”) form of the pathogen, a form in which it cannot cause the intended disease but is still capable of alerting the host immune cells.

?? Canine Distemper Vaccine – Distemper is viral infection that can wreak havoc on a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological systems, sometimes even proving fatal. This virus spreads through contact or shared spaces with infected animals. The distemper vaccine is often combined with others to shield against multiple diseases, like parvovirus, adenovirus, and parainfluenza (“multivalent vaccine”).? Examples include: Recombitek? (Boehringer Ingelheim), Nobivac? CANINE 1-DAPPv (Merck Animal Health), Vanguard? DAPP (Zoetis).

?? Feline Panleukopenia Vaccine – FPV targets those rapidly dividing cells in cats, particularly in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, intestines, and developing fetuses. “Panleukopenia” refers to the damage FPV does to white blood cells—your cat’s primary defenders. This highly contagious virus spreads through secretions and direct contact, and while it can affect cats of all ages, it’s particularly harsh on kittens and cats with weakened immune systems. This vaccine is a core component of feline vaccinations and is often combined with others to protect against herpesvirus 1 and calicivirus. For example: Nobivac? Feline 1-HCP (Merck Animal Health), Vanguard? Feline RCP (Zoetis).

2.???? Inactivated Vaccines

These vaccines contain the killed (“inactivated”) pathogen with no replication ability but can generate an immune response within the host.

?? Feline Leukemia Vaccine – The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a top contender in the league of viruses that cause virus associated deaths in cats. It spreads through secretions from casual contact, bite wounds, or nursing, leading to issues ranging from severe anemia and immune suppression to cancer. This vaccine is a must for all cats under one year old and is considered non-core for cats over one year. Examples include: Nobivac? Feline 2-FeLV (Merck Animal Health), Leukocell? 2 (Zoetis)

?? Canine Rabies Virus Vaccine – Rabies is caused by a neurotropic RNA virus that spreads via bites from infected to healthy individuals. Once it enters a healthy pet, it either hides in the muscle tissue or travels through the nervous system to the brain causing severe inflammation and often being fatal. Depending on the location of viral entry and the viral load, symptoms can appear anywhere from a week to a year after exposure. This vaccine is not generally part of the regular vaccination schedule, unless there is a risk of exposure, however, it is critical if there’s a suspected bite. For example: Imrab? 3 (Boehringer Ingelheim), Nobivac? Rabies (Merck Animal Health).

3.???? Subunit and Recombinant Vaccines

These vaccines consist of proteinaceous parts (“subunits”) of the pathogenic organism or DNA molecules (“recombinant”) capable of producing these subunits that can trigger an immune response within the host.

?? Canine Lyme Disease Vaccine – Lyme disease (LD) is caused by the spirochete (“spiral-shaped bacteria”), Borrelia burgdorferi, and is transmitted through tick bites, can lead to painful, swollen joints, swollen lymph nodes and loss of appetite. If left untreated, it can lead to kidney and nervous system damage. The canine LD is a recombinant subunit vaccine featuring distinct outer surface proteins (Osp) A and C generally displayed on B. burgdorferi. It trains your dog’s immune surface to recognize these proteins and develop antibodies against them. Examples include: Nobivac? Lyme (Merck Animal Health), Vanguard? crLyme (Zoetis)

Targeted Therapy – A laser-focused attack on your pet’s illness

?? Lokivetmab (Cytopoint?, Zoetis) is a recombinant canine monoclonal antibody (mAb) designed take on your dog’s itchiness, like a personalized superhero for skin allergies. This mAb specifically binds to and neutralizes interleukin (IL)-31, the culprit behind that constant urge to scratch. By blocking IL-31, this therapy provides relief from the endless itching caused by dermatitis, giving your pup some much-needed peace [1].

?? Bedinvetmab (Librela?, Zoetis) is a recombinant canine mAb developed as a pain assassin for dogs suffering from osteoarthritis (OA). It targets the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a key player in pain transmission. OA is a degenerative and painful condition, known to affect 90% of dogs greater than 5 years of age. By taking NGF out of the equation, Bedinvetmab can help manage that pain and bring a whole lot of relief to dogs dealing with OA, making their golden years a little more golden [2].

Probiotics, Prebiotics and Synbiotics – The gut’s support team

Whether it's for tackling gastrointestinal issues or just boosting overall gut health, each of these work behind the scenes to keep your pet’s digestive system in top shape. Probiotics are like adding "good bacteria" reinforcements, prebiotics provide the fiber fuel these bacteria thrive on, and synbiotics? They bring both together for the ultimate gut boost!

?? FortiFlora? (Purina) – Canine & feline probiotic supplement

?? Proviable? (Nutramax Laboratories) – Canine & feline symbiotic supplement

Immune-Modulating Agents

?? Oncept IL-2 (Merial) – This treatment is like a superhero sidekick for cats battling fibrosarcoma (non-metastasized), used alongside surgery and radiotherapy to fend off potential relapses. It’s a recombinant vaccine that introduces a gene for feline IL-2, helping to rally the cat’s immune system to fight off tumors more effectively [3].

Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy (ASIT) – Personalized defence plan for your pet’s allergies

?? Allercept? (Heska) – ASIT aims to alleviate the patient’s response to important environmental allergies, atopic dermatitis and other hypersensitivities. It starts by identifying specific allergens through a blood test to see what’s causing the trouble. Then, a custom-made treatment is crafted to target those allergens. With a series of gradually increasing doses, given either through drops or injections, ASIT aims to relieve symptoms over 3-6 months. Unlike short-term fixes like steroids and antihistamines, this therapy offers a long-term, effective solution for managing allergies, helping your pet breathe easier and live more comfortably.

Regenerative Medicine

?? Although still evolving, regenerative medicine is opening exciting new doors for our pets. Stem cell therapy, for instance, uses mesenchymal stem cells to tackle osteoarthritis, offering long-term relief from pain and inflammation. Pioneering organizations like IVRI, CellMed, and StemcellX are leading the charge with ethical and scalable production models.

?? Another promising avenue is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. PRP is a concentrated portion of blood rich in platelets, white blood cells, and crucial growth factors. Injected directly into the injury site, PRP helps reduce inflammation, promote cell growth, and accelerate healing. While still a relatively new player in musculoskeletal medicine, PRP holds promise as a beacon of hope, especially for conditions like canine arthritis, potentially enhancing mobility and comfort for dogs [4,5].

Nothing tugs at your heartstrings quite like a sick pet. And the tough part is, sometimes we don’t even notice something’s amiss until it’s too late. Inspired by Disney-Pixar’s heartwarming film, “UP”, wouldn’t it be amazing if technology and AI could let our pets tell us what they’re feeling?

Until that futuristic day arrives, the best we can do is stay vigilant with regular vet check-ups and pay close attention to any changes in our furry friends’ behavior. With the rapid advancements in biologics and a focus on animal health and well-being, we’re excited about the new therapies on the horizon. Rest assured, the Nanomedicine Research Group is on top of it, keeping a keen eye on the latest developments!

References:

1.?Krautmann, M. et al. Laboratory safety evaluation of lokivetmab, a canine anti-interleukin-31 monoclonal antibody, in dogs. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 258, 110574 (2023).

2.?Krautmann, M. et al. Laboratory safety evaluation of bedinvetmab, a canine anti-nerve growth factor monoclonal antibody, in dogs. Vet. J. Lond. Engl. 1997 276, 105733 (2021).

3.?Jas, D. et al. Adjuvant immunotherapy of feline injection-site sarcomas with the recombinant canarypox virus expressing feline interleukine-2 evaluated in a controlled monocentric clinical trial when used in association with surgery and brachytherapy. Trials Vaccinol. 4, 1–8 (2015).

4. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in Canine Orthopedics. MU Veterinary Health Center https://vhc.missouri.edu/platelet-rich-plasma-prp-in-canine-orthopedics/ (2016).

5.??Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy for Dogs: Is it Worth Trying PRP? https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/platelet-rich-plasma-therapy-for-dogs/.

The content used in this blog is intended for educational and informational purposes only. All rights to the images, dialogue, clips, and other materials used belong to their respective owners. I do not claim ownership over any third-party content used.

-Written by Priyanjali Dias , PhD student, Nanomedicine Research Group, ICTMumbai , Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai .

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