Abbott and Oasmia Pharmaceutical ink deal for new chemotherapeutic for dogs

Abbott Park, Ill.

– A multi-year agreement to market a new chemotherapeutic agent for dogs was finalized by Abbott and Oasmia Pharmaceutical of Uppsala, Sweden.

While the product needs to gain regulatory approval, the deal sets the stage for future availability of Paccal Vet (micellar paclitaxel), a first-generation treatment for Grade II and Grade III canine mast-cell tumors where curative surgery cannot be performed.

The deal gives Abbott exclusive rights to distribute Paccal Vet for veterinary use in the United States and Canada. Oasmia will develop, manufacture and register the new drug. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Abbott’s entry into oncology offers a new area of focus for the company with products currently targeting diabetes, anesthesia, wound care, pain management and fluid therapy, company officials report.

"There are significant unmet needs in this market, which is why Abbott is entering the veterinary oncology arena," explains Lynn Bromstedt, divisional vice president and general manager of Abbott Animal Health.

Paclitaxel is a compound that has been used to treat cancer in humans since 1993. Traditional formulations of the compound were insoluable in water, requiring the medication to be dissolved in solvents which led to low tolerability and severe side effects in dogs, the company explains. "Paccal Vet uses a novel, non-toxic nanoparticle formulation that overcomes those challenges and provides a high level of water solubility."

If approved for use in the United States, the drug would rank as one of the first cancer treatment specifically designed for veterinary use.