972.437.9499
office

972.680.9233
fax

12101 Greenville Ave
Suite 114
Dallas, TX 75234

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday-Friday
7 am - 6 pm
By
Appointment Only

OUR DOCTORS:

Cheryl K. Harris, DVM, ACVIM (Internal Medicine, Oncology)

Glen King, DVM, ACVR (Radiation Oncology, Radiology)

David S. Rolfe, DVM, MS, ACVIM (Internal Medicine)

Héctor J. Encarnación, DVM

Dallas Veterinary Medical Services

Canine Melanoma Vaccine

This letter was sent to Veterinarians
about the new vaccine:

Our practice now offers a new Canine Melanoma Vaccine as a treatment option for canine oral melanoma. This vaccine was developed by Merial Limited and will be adopted into our melanoma treatment protocol.

Canine Melanoma Vaccine is approved for use in dogs with stage II or III oral melanoma for which local disease control has been achieved [1] through surgery and/or radiation therapy. The vaccine, which uses a gene for human tyrosinase, stimulates an immune response against the canine melanoma cells that express tyrosinase [2].

Historical median survival times for dogs with advanced stages of oral melanoma that are treated with conventional therapies (surgery and radiation therapy) are one to eight months. In initial trials, this type of novel vaccine has resulted in significantly extended survival times for dogs with melanoma - 389 days is the median length [2].

Treatment with the vaccine consists of a transdermal injection in the medial thigh once every other week for four vaccinations.  After the initial four doses dogs require a booster vaccination every six months [1].

As our practice treats patients with this vaccine, we will be submitting data to Merial in accordance with the vaccine¡¯s conditional license requirements. Our hope is that you will refer melanoma patients to us so that we can consider them for this new treatment. Working together, we can provide this advanced medicine to deserving dogs.

NOTICE: The USDA has issued a conditional U.S. Veterinary Biological Product License for this therapeutic vaccine.  This conditional license is a response to an application and assurance of safety and purity, and a reasonable expectation of efficacy based on initial trials [1].

During the period of conditional licensure, additional research will be conducted to further support the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. 

Production under this license is in compliance with all regulations and standards applicable to such products.

If you have additional questions about Canine Melanoma Vaccine, please feel free to contact Merial¡¯s Technical Solutions at 1-888-MERIAL-1, option 3.

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  Veterinary Specialists of North Texas & Animal Cancer Center
12101 Greenville Ave., Suite 114
Dallas, TX, 75243
972.437.9499
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