Biotechnology company announces financial and clinical milestones

Photo: Dasha Shvetsova

A biotechnology company that specializes in antibody drugs for animal health has closed its’ seed round of financing at $6 million, while also showing progress in the development of 2 oncology therapies for dogs. The company, Vetigenics, is also advancing clinical-stage programs for other diseases.¹

The seed funds will be used to advance clinical-stage programs toward pivotal trials, accelerate exciting preclinical candidates, and scale up operations and manufacturing, according to Vetigenics. "The funding underscores the confidence our investor partners have in our ability to achieve significant progress in a capital-efficient manner," Adriann Sax, president, CEO and cofounder of Vetigenics, said in a news release.¹ "They share our belief in the potential of biologics to treat a variety of diseases in pets and the unique capabilities of Vetigenics to stay ahead in this evolving field."

The company recently announced it has completed a clinical trial for a canine anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody therapy for treatment of oral melanoma in combination with palliative radiation (VGS-001), and is nearing completion of a clinical trial for an anti-cPD1 monotherapy used to treat urothelial cancer in dogs (VGS-002). Results of both Vetigenics studies are expected to be published in 2025.¹

According to Vetigenics, the results of the completed VGS-001 trial are encouraging, and promising results are expected for the VGS-002 trial. "It is very exciting to see Vetigenics' checkpoint inhibitors safely addressing significant unmet needs in common veterinary cancers," Nicola Mason, BVetMed, PhD, DACVIM, FRCVS, Vetigenics cofounder and clinical investigator, said in a news release.¹

Funded by the National Cancer Institute, the VGS-001 trial was conducted at North Carolina State Veterinary Hospital in Raleigh and the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center in Columbia with the goal of determining the drug’s tolerability its’ effect on patient immune systems. Investigators also sought to discover if VGS-001 was able to control primary and metastatic oral melanoma and administered the trial’s first dose to a canine patient with stage 4 of the disease in the fall of 2023.²

The clinical trial for VGS-002 is funded by a V Foundation grant and the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, and is being conducted in collaboration with Ethos Veterinary Health. This study’s goal is to determine tolerability and pharmacodynamic effects, and identify correlative biomarkers of clinical response in dogs with urothelial carcinoma. The pet dogs enrolled in the study are being evaluated and treated at Colorado Animal Specialty & Emergency in Boulder and Veterinary Specialty Hospital-North County in San Marcos, California.²

“These therapies have the potential to transform the way veterinary oncologists treat cancer and the outcomes of their cancer patients. Vetigenics’ monoclonal antibodies offer new hope for families dealing with their pet’s diagnosis and treatment,” Mason said in a news release.² “The principal researchers at each site are second to none in their field, and I’m honored to be working together with such esteemed colleagues to make a difference for our canine companions.”

Additionally,Vetigenics is advancing preclinical animal health programs for the treatment of autoimmune disease, obesity and allergy. These therapies are expected to address significant unmet needs in companion animal care, according to the company. They include an anti-cCD19 monoclonal antibody (VGS-003) that has been evaluated in vivo and is on track to begin clinical trials in 2025.¹

Vetigenics has also established a board of directors to help guide the company as it continues to grow. Board members include Chand Khanna, DVM, PhD, an expert in comparative oncology and translational medicine; Stephen Lesser, JD, MBA, a strategic advisor in biotechnology and life sciences; Caleb Frankel, VMD, an expert in electronic medical records and a veterinary technology innovator; as well as Sax.¹

References

1. Vetigenics secures $6 million seed financing, sees meaningful clinical progress. News release. February 3, 2025. Accessed February 10, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vetigenics-secures-6-million-seed-financing-sees-meaningful-clinical-progress-302365848.html?tc=eml_cleartime
2. First canine patient receives Vetigenics’ fully canine anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody for oral melanoma. News release. Vetigenics. November 2, 2023.Accessed February 10, 2025. https://vetigenics.com/news/first-canine-patient-receives-vetigenics-fully-canine-anti-ctla4-monoclonal-antibody-for-oral-melanoma/