The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug specifically for the treatment of cancer in dogs, it was announced on June 3, 2009. The drug, Palladia (toceranib phosphate), manufactured by Pfizer Animal Health Inc., is approved to treat canine cutaneous (skin-based) mast cell tumors. Taken orally every other day, it works by killing tumor cells and by cutting off the blood supply to the tumor. Palladia showed a statistically significant difference in tumor shrinkage when compared with a placebo.
Side effects may include diarrhea, decrease or loss of appetite, lameness, weight loss, and blood in the stool.
Pfizer plans to begin marketing the drug in 2010.
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