Palladia, First Dog Cancer Drug FDA Approved But Not Great
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: March 14th, 2019
Palladia, the first drug officially approved for use in treating dog cancer has arrived. This was described in the Dog Cancer Survival Guide by it’s pre-market name, SU11654. Now it’s finally ready for release.
Palladia, made by Pfizer, has been approved by the FDA. It is expected to be available next year. This drug is approved for treating mast cell tumors in the dog.
The fact that this is the first drug approved for dog cancer may be odd for many. What about all those chemotherapy drugs that are used? They are not FDA approved?
Well, the facts are that vets and veterinary oncologists have been using human drugs the whole time. As a matter of fact, many of the drugs we use generally are not FDA-approved for use in the canine.
Why?
It turns out that FDA drug approval is allowed for one species at a time. On top of that, approval is for one disease or problem. In veterinary medicine, we have cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, monkeys, snakes, and so on…many different species, and they all need treatment.
It would take hundred of years and staggering amounts of money to get all our drugs approved for all these different species and diseases.
So vets have “off-label” drug use privileges. Off-label drug use means we can use drugs approved for one species (including humans) freely in other species.
Let’s take a look at some of the facts around Palladia.
Like most of the conventional treatments we use in treating dogs with cancer, the numbers for Palladia are a bit disheartening.
The median duration of objective response (meaning how long the Palladia’s effect lasted on mast cell tumors) was 12 weeks. Yes, 3 months of tumor shrinkage or disappearance is what you can expect. This number is taken from the original study.
After 3 months the cancer came back.
On top of this, not all dogs with mast cell tumors even responded. It turns out that roughly 40% of dog with mast cell tumors will actually respond to the drug, while the majority do not.
This means that while about 40% of the time the cancer either went away or shrank, in the remaining 60% of dogs Palladia had no effect.
Get a copy of the Dog Cancer Survival Guide for more information and tools to help your dog with cancer
Sigh.
If you would like to look at the original data for yourself, here is the link.
This highlights important points.
First, there is a big to do about Palladia. But, the actual statistics are depressing. Interesting contrast between hype and reality.
Second, I think most guardians of dogs afflicted with mast cell tumors would not be jumping for joy at these numbers, in spite of the festivities at Pfizer.
Lastly, this shows how important it is to leap sideways in our efforts to really treat canine cancer.
The more I think about dog cancer, and disease in general, the more I believe early choices are key, long before old age.
I will start addressing how dog cancer does not start in old age, in future posts. Instead, it starts many, many years before hand. We need to start taking steps earlier, much earlier.
Best to all,
Dr D
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Hello all,
I have a Boston Terrier who has an enlarged heart which has made it impossible to use prednisone. She has a Grade III MCT which was removed with clear margins the first time and than it came back. This MCT is on her vulva, so there is not anymore room for them to remove again. I got 3 opinions on that to be sure that everyone was in agreeance to not remove it. She also had a Grade II MCT on her belly that was removed that they did not get clear margins on, but thankfully has not returned since its removal last August 2009.
We have been down the road with a holistic approach and still continue those treatments. We have also been palladia users. She responded well to the palladia initially and the tumor started to shrink almost immediately, but after 1.5 weeks on the palladia, she acted like she could not see us and her eyes were as big as gulf balls. The oncologist took her off of it for a couple of weeks and than we restarted. Instead of every other day, we reduced to MWF. 1.5 weeks into it again, she had the same effect. We took her off of it again. The next time we started it up at half the dose 3 times per week and she had the effect the first day. Molly can no longer take palladia. This is I guess a rare side effect that they have seen where she is having “neurological” side effects to the medication. It was quite a disappointment because she did have success with taking the medication for the tumor reduction.
Now, the tumor has flared up again and we have begun our treatment with masitinib under the compassionate program. The only thing I find interesting after reading here, is that she is only taking it every other day as with the palladia. I have not read anywhere else that anyone is on an every other day program, so I think I will call the oncologist to be sure. She just started this journey, so I will keep you posted on her progress.
She will be 12 years old this August and is full of life when this tumor is at bay. She currently only has the one tumor that we continue to be challenged with. Because of where it is located, it easily bothers her, so I have to be on top of watching her every day.
My prayers are with each person struggling with cancer and their dogs. I myself have been surrounded by cancer in my family and through animals, so it is a very nasty word to me. God Bless each of you during your journey with your best friends!!
We have an 8 year old American Pit Bull Terrier who has just been through a 2nd round of surgery to remove a GIST. There is not alot of information out there about this type of tumor. We have recently started her on the Apocaps, 6 weeks after surgery. It has been suggested to also try Palladia. Is there any documentation that this will help? Our girl had two years between tumors. What would you suggest? We just started reading your book.
Jennifer,
Mu cat is on Palladia and I administer the dose at home. The Palladia was about $50
Good luck
Dr D
Do you know if Palladia can put strain on the heart or hurt the heart?
Thanks for your time
Hi how are you.
I writing you because i need to buy Palladia 50mg from Pfizer.
My dog is very needed of this and i don’t know where to find it.
The thing is that im living right now in Argentina, but i have firends who can buy it in the US
I’ll pay the shipping and everything but it would be very helpfull if you can tell me this information.
I can also send you my vet’s prescription.
Thank you very much and i hope it can be done.
I just started my dog, Riley, on Palladia today. He is 7yrs young and was diagnosed with anal gland carcinoma last March. He’s had two surgery’s to remove tumors and lymph nodes as well as a course of radiation. I am a little nervous about this drug as it is new and seems to have several possible side effects. He is in good spirits and otherwise good health. I’m afraid this drug may change that and make him sick. Has anyone had success with this drug in treatment of anal gland carcinoma?
Lori
HI
Is anyone experiencing weight loss? I am thinking it is from her eating but I am curious
Help please! Our English Bulldog who is 8.5 years old has a very large aggressive mast tumour on the right side of his face and neck, it has grown and wrapped around. After spending loads of cash, and seeing the Oncologist, the answers were all so very diluted. Go on Chemo, then maybe shrink it, maybe surgery, radiation not really an option but considered, could be a good candidate for Palladia. Long story short, my husband and I are very frustrated and upset because the cost is insane and the prognosis is so poor. We decided to try Palladia because it is designed specifically for Mast Cell tumours. Does anyone know what the cost is for a 70 pound dog. The quote I just recieved is $3000 a month just for the visits to the specialist not including the meds. They want us to go weekly, pay them $700 for the visit and the blood work weekly, and they don’t have the costs yet for the Palladia.
Please help me get some answers, I’m very angry with the way these matters are being handled and feel that we are being taken advantage of at this moment. I live in Vancouver, BC, and can easily make it to Seattle for treatment.
I was under the impression that Palladia could be administered by the owner?
Thanks anyone who has some info.
Dear Jennifer,
I am sorry this is a hard time. The reason why the answers seem diluted is that cancer medicine is all percentages, but not yes/no or right/wrong. We, sadly, do not have a cure, so everything else is kind of based on probability of some “success”, and what success means to you may be different from what it means to a veterinarian.
The reason the costs are high is that that costs of medicine are high. As an owner of a veterinary hospital, for 1 vet working 6 days a week, it takes about $65,000 a month simply to pay the bills. I am not kidding. So it is very difficult for everyone, and obviously nobody is suffering like you are.
Palladia can be administered by the owner (you) but it is not a mickey-mouse drug and the follow up is important to keep your dog safe.
Here are some more things to consider:
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/mast-cell-tumors-in-dogs-some-advances-in-conventional-care/
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/diet-for-dogs-with-mast-cell-tumors/
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/mast-cells-and-luteolin-in-cancer-treatment-part-1/
i use this supplement (with luteolin) in my patients:
http://www.apocaps.com
also see:
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/why-use-stomach-medication-for-mast-cell-tumors/
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/mast-cell-tumor-surgery-and-benadryl/
There is more info in the Guide.
Best,
Dr D
P.S. Carolyn,
What are you feeding your pooch? I am reading so many different opinions what to feed that I am confused.
Thanks!!!
Hi Carolyn,
You are awesome. I am so happy for you and your lab!!!
My email is pray4animals@yahoo.com. If you do send me something, please put Carolyn in the subject line or Palladia. I get alot of spam.
Quick question…Is it normal for her to be sleepy on the night of the day she received the Palladia?
Her name is Princess and she is 16. I saw a bumper sticker that says “Who rescued who?” That is perfect. She gives me more love than I could ever give her.
Take care,
Eric
Eric
If you are interested there are a couple of web sites about the Palladia clinical trials you can access on line. If you are interested I will attempt to send you the link. Also, there are some pet cancer support groups on line that I have found very helpful. Let me know.
Carolyn
Eric
She really is petite, how old is she and what is her name?
Have you tried hiding the pill in/wrapping it in wet food or a kitty treat? I do all my lab’s pills inside wet food, liver sausage, cheese whiz, peanut butter, basically anything she will eagerly eat. Will your cat lick water off your finger? Some day’s that was the only way I could get water into my lab.
For my lab it was 3-4 weeks before we noticed any shrinkage (about 25%) in the tumor. I was disappointed and scared when the first 2 weeks we did not have any response, but we also did not have any new growth which I had to tell myself to take as a positive sign.
My lab weighs 74- 78 pounds and we started out on 110 mg, which was the suggested dose for her weight. The 110mg dose was every other day for approximately 3 ½ months during which time we had some bad side effects. We then went to 110 mg every 72 hours for 4 weeks and still had unmanageable side effects lack of eating, lack of water intake, diarrhea, dehydrated, and personality change. We went down to 100 mg every other day and still had side effects that were not controlled even with supportive meds for the diarrhea. We are now on a dose of 90 mg every other day, which so far she is handling well. In fact she gained weight over the last 4 weeks, her appetite is better, and she is much happier. We were at the vet yesterday, the tumor has continued to decreased, the tumor sight looks at least near-normal, if not normal. From what the vet can see, they are unable to tell if the tumor is present or not, there is a small amount of gingival thickening (which may or may not be tumor. Also, all her ALT and BUN levels which last month were elevated above normal have gone back down to normal levels.
So we did get a positive response using Palladia, we are at stable disease if not partial response, but it was a rough road.
We will keep your cat in our prayer. Please keep us posted as to how your cat is doing.
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn,
I started the Palladia today. They had to have a compounding pharmacist make up a compound prescription since she is petite and needs 5 mg doses. What stinks is the pill melted in her mouth today and I hope that won’t upset her and I hope she got most of the dose. I have to try Palladia because her eating has declined and her water intake too.
What dose was your dog on that caused the tumor to shrink? My vet put mine on 5mg and she is 5 pounds. The vet told me that I need to wait 4 to 6 weeks to see if it will help. I am really hoping that this is going to save her.
I can’t thank you enough for the info you are giving me. I am really hoping the best for your lab.
Take care,
Eric