ELIAS Animal Health Receives Full Approval from USDA for the ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI®), First-In-Class Treatment for Canine Osteosarcoma
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Veterinary Biologics approves ECI®, a first-in-class adoptive cell therapy for the treatment of bone cancer in dogs
- ECI® is now available at 100 authorized treatment centers across the United States
LENEXA, Kan., March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ELIAS Animal Health, a leading companion animal cancer therapeutics company, today announced its adoptive cell therapy, ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI®), has received full approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB). Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over the age of two and represents a significant unmet medical need in veterinary medicine, with an estimated 6 million dogs diagnosed with cancer each year.
ECI®, the first autologous prescription product to receive USDA-CVB approval, is indicated for the treatment of canine osteosarcoma, a deadly form of bone cancer. Large and giant breed dogs, such as Golden Retrievers, Boxers, Greyhounds, Labradors and German Shepherds, are at higher risk of developing this cancer. ECI® works by first conditioning the immune system to recognize a patient's unique cancer and then delivering an army of activated killer T cells to target and attack those cancer cells.
"At ELIAS Animal Health, our commitment to advancing animal health and improving the lives of pets and their families is at the core of everything we do," said Tammie Wahaus, CEO of ELIAS Animal Health. "The approval of ECI® represents the culmination of years of dedicated research and development, and we are proud to offer a new treatment option that meets the highest regulatory standards and offers significant benefits to both veterinarians and their patients."
"Immunotherapies such as ECI® are at the forefront of new treatment options which use the patient's own immune system to fight their cancer," said Dr. Noe Reyes, Chief Medical Officer of ELIAS Animal Health. "We are excited to bring the first licensed adoptive cell therapy to the veterinary community and provide clinicians with an important new treatment option."
ECI® is administered by authorized treatment centers, of which there are 100 locations across the United States today. The decision to pursue ECI® must be made prior to surgery so that cancer tissue can be collected to manufacture the treatment. Veterinarians interested in learning more to inform their clients about this new cancer treatment option or becoming an authorized treatment center are encouraged to contact the Company.
Learn more about ECI® at www.eliasanimalhealth.com.
About ELIAS Animal Health
ELIAS Animal Health is a medical biotechnology company focused on advancing a pipeline of immunotherapies, including an adoptive cell therapy and an oncolytic virotherapy, for the treatment of canine cancers. The company's therapeutic pipeline offers the prospect of improved clinical outcomes and the potential for fundamentally changing the way cancer is treated. Learn more at www.eliasanimalhealth.com.
Media Contact:
Jessica Wiley
1-816-800-0504
jwiley@eliasah.com
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SOURCE ELIAS Animal Health