Purdue University and Akston Biosciences Bring “First Dose of Hope” in New Cancer Immunotherapy Trial for Dogs with Urinary Bladder Cancer

Purdue University and its College of Veterinary Medicine, in partnership with Akston Biosciences Corporation, has initiated the enrollment of dogs with urinary bladder cancer in a clinical trial of a pioneering immunotherapy. The immunotherapy consisting of an anti-cPD-L1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) is designed to target and block the cPD-L1 protein on cancer cells. This, in turn, is expected to enhance the immune system’s ability to attack the cancer cells more effectively to improve outcomes and extend life. The strategic partnership between Purdue and Akston was announced in August after the underlying technology was developed at the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research (PICR). nvasive urothelial carcinoma (InvUC), also known as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), is the most common and aggressive type of urinary bladder cancer in dogs. Read more >>