This was really interesting, thanks for the writeup! The idea of targeting animal drug approval before humans seem almost obvious after reading this, making me think that either 1) I'm missing some downsides, or 2) the drug development market just isn't very efficient.
Curious, what do you perceive to be your biggest bottlenecks over the next year?
Thanks! To be fair, you need a disease that's not just translatable, but a big enough problem in animals that there's a market for it. So, for instance, a drug for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (a liver disease common in the obese), would be very profitable in humans but would be tough to make a profit on in animals.
Our biggest bottleneck by far is money, as almost all our development gets contracted out to specialists, including our core trials. There will be other issues along the way (like right now we're trying to find a bioanalytical lab that's willing and able to handle feline blood samples), but those are surmountable.
I am a veterinarian and cannot express how much I would like to have a solution for these intractable case of stomatitis. Please let me know if there is anything I could do to help your trial.
There might be something! Please reach out through my contact form at highwaypharm.com and let me know some of your background. Hopefully there's some way we can work together.
Just a thought from my experience with Mirataz (transdermal mirtazapine ointment exclusively for feline appetite stimulation); is a topical route in the works? Here's a study suggesting CsA can be effectively administered this way: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6780175/
Actually, if we weren't funding-constrained, I'd really like to develop a subcutaneous administration. These can be administered as little as once-monthly by your vet, and you wouldn't have to touch the sore at all, which would make it a way more pleasant experience for the cat.
This is a rude comment and you clearly didn't read the article. We're making a safer, more effective version of cyclosporine that solves many of the issues that prevent cyclosporine use from being more widespread. It's not at all identical to the cyclosporine that you find in pharmacies today.
Ah, my partner's cat has the exact disease you're targeting. What's the ETA on market availability? :-D
Not soon enough! If God/the FDA is willing and the creek don't rise, hopefully 2025.
This was really interesting, thanks for the writeup! The idea of targeting animal drug approval before humans seem almost obvious after reading this, making me think that either 1) I'm missing some downsides, or 2) the drug development market just isn't very efficient.
Curious, what do you perceive to be your biggest bottlenecks over the next year?
Thanks! To be fair, you need a disease that's not just translatable, but a big enough problem in animals that there's a market for it. So, for instance, a drug for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (a liver disease common in the obese), would be very profitable in humans but would be tough to make a profit on in animals.
Our biggest bottleneck by far is money, as almost all our development gets contracted out to specialists, including our core trials. There will be other issues along the way (like right now we're trying to find a bioanalytical lab that's willing and able to handle feline blood samples), but those are surmountable.
I am a veterinarian and cannot express how much I would like to have a solution for these intractable case of stomatitis. Please let me know if there is anything I could do to help your trial.
There might be something! Please reach out through my contact form at highwaypharm.com and let me know some of your background. Hopefully there's some way we can work together.
I like cats but they may be net-negative (especially outside ones).
Just a thought from my experience with Mirataz (transdermal mirtazapine ointment exclusively for feline appetite stimulation); is a topical route in the works? Here's a study suggesting CsA can be effectively administered this way: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6780175/
Actually, if we weren't funding-constrained, I'd really like to develop a subcutaneous administration. These can be administered as little as once-monthly by your vet, and you wouldn't have to touch the sore at all, which would make it a way more pleasant experience for the cat.
This is a rude comment and you clearly didn't read the article. We're making a safer, more effective version of cyclosporine that solves many of the issues that prevent cyclosporine use from being more widespread. It's not at all identical to the cyclosporine that you find in pharmacies today.