Current Clinical Trials

The University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center is enrolling dogs in a clinical trial evaluating an investigational oral Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitor—BI705564—for the treatment of newly diagnosed B‑cell lymphoma. This exploratory, multicenter field study aims to assess both efficacy and safety of BTK inhibition in canine patients.

Eligibility includes:

• Dogs >1 year old and 10–50 kg in body weight
• Naïve, untreated B‑cell lymphoma confirmed by cytology or histology with immunophenotyping (flow cytometry)
• At least two peripheral lymph nodes ≥2 cm in longest diameter
• WHO stage II, III, or IV B‑cell lymphoma
• Adequate organ function on bloodwork and urinalysis
• Performance score of 0–1 (normal to mildly decreased activity) and life expectancy ≥1 month
• Owner consent

Key exclusions:

• T‑cell lymphoma or involvement of skin, GI tract, or nervous system
• Internal‑only disease (mediastinum, liver, spleen) without peripheral lymph node enlargement
• Prior lymphoma treatment (chemotherapy, Tanovea, Laverdia, radiation) or long‑term corticosteroids (>2 weeks)
• Hypercalcemia, MDR1 deficiency, pregnancy/lactation, or concurrent trial enrollment

Study overview:

Dogs will receive oral BI705564 once daily for 3 months (84 days) at 5 mg/kg, with possible dose escalation to 10 mg/kg in certain cases depending on early target occupancy results.

The study includes scheduled evaluations such as:

• Physical examinations and lymph node measurements
• Quality‑of‑life assessments
• Bloodwork (CBC, chemistry, lymphoma testing)
• Lymph node aspirates for target occupancy evaluation
• Thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasound at screening

Follow‑up continues regularly throughout the 12‑week treatment period.

Potential benefits:

• Access to a novel investigational BTK inhibitor designed to target B‑cell lymphoma
• All study‑related diagnostics, monitoring, and investigational drug costs are covered
• Opportunity to contribute to advancement of veterinary oncology and comparative cancer therapeutics

Potential risks:

• Possible drug‑related side effects (as with any investigational therapy)
• Risks associated with repeated lymph node aspirates, blood draws, and imaging procedures
• Dogs may be withdrawn if adverse events occur or if continued participation is not in the animal’s best interest

Owner commitment:

Owners must agree to:

• Bring their dog for all required study visits over 12 weeks
• Administer oral medication daily as directed
• Allow required diagnostic sampling (bloodwork, lymph node aspirates, imaging)
• Participate in quality‑of‑life assessments

Dogs may be withdrawn at any time. If a dog passes away during the study, postmortem evaluation is requested to improve understanding of treatment effects.

Contact

For more information on this study please contact:
📧 cvmclinicaltrials@missouri.edu
Please include the subject line: BI705564 BTK Inhibitor Trial

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center is enrolling patients into a clinical trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a new immunotherapy, the Vaccine Peptide Library (VPL), when given to dogs with cancer. Studies in dogs with cancer will complement current human trials designed to test new doses and effects of this agent.

Criteria:

• Body weight between 15 and 60 kg
• Tumor biopsy or cytology to confirm diagnosis
• Solid tumor measuring 2 to 8 cm
• No mast cell tumors, cutaneous hemangiosarcomas, thyroid carcinomas, or lymphomas
• Must not have received ANY prior experimental therapy
• No concurrent chemotherapy or radiation therapy – 2 week washout period required
• No concurrent immunomodulatory therapy (including Apoquel or Cytopoint) – 6 week washout period required
• No concurrent corticosteroids – 1 week washout period required
• No hypercalcemia causing illness
• No significant co-morbid illness, which includes, but is not limited to: pulmonary metastatic disease, renal or hepatic failure, history of congestive heart failure or clinical coagulopathy, autoimmune disorders, or uncontrolled endocrinopathies

Benefit:

• Complete cost of all treatments and rechecks covered by study, include initial staging or adverse side effects.
• This trial is being conducted concurrently with human trials.
• Contribute to development of an important cancer therapy.
• At the conclusion of the study, there will be a $1000 monetary gift provided towards additional treatment for your pet’s cancer.

To Participate:

• Pet owners must be willing to transport their dog to and from the treatment center in Columbia, MO for every visit abiding by specific timelines.
• A full screening will be performed prior to full study enrollment.
• Participation will require a total of up to 13 weekly visits.

For more information on this study please contact: cvmclinicaltrials@missouri.edu with the subject pertaining to the trial of interest or fill out a short survey here.

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center is enrolling patients into a clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of Gilvetmab, an anti-PD1 monoclonal antibody, as a treatment for canine pulmonary carcinoma. Similar treatments have been shown to improve survival in human lung cancer patients.

Criteria:

• Dogs with gross disease and those with microscopic disease
• No immune-mediated disease or other severe comorbidities
• No concurrent use of steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs

Study Involvement:

• Gilvetmab is given as a slow infusion every two weeks for up to 10 doses.
• CBC, chemistry, and urinalysis are performed every 4 weeks.
• Chest x-rays are performed every 8 weeks.

Benefit:

• The study covers the cost of Gilvetmab treatment (ranges from $540 – $1350 per treatment, depending on patient size).
• Owner is responsive for recheck exams, bloodwork, and x-rays.

To Participate:

• Pet owners must be willing to transport their dog to and from the treatment center in Columbia, MO for every visit abiding by specific timelines.
• A full screening will be performed prior to full study enrollment.
• Participation will require a total of up to 10 biweekly visits.

For more information on this study please contact: cvmclinicaltrials@missouri.edu with the subject pertaining to the trial of interest or fill out a short survey here.

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center is enrolling patients into a clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of lymphodepleting chemotherapy and xenogenic CAR-T cell therapy in dogs with spontaneous CD20+ lymphoma. CAR-T cells are lymphocytes (immune cells) that have had a series of genes added to them that make them professional killers of any cell carrying the target molecule. This study will seek to better understand the effects of the CAR-T cells on the tumor as well as the dog’s immune system.

Criteria:

• Canine patients weighing over 10kg

• Patients with naive (newly diagnosed) and relapsed (pre-treated) Large Cell B-Cell lymphoma.

• Must be feeling clinically WELL at home.

• Must meet bloodwork requirements and have no evidence of primary gastrointestinal or lung involvement; eligibility is at the discretion of the investigator.

• Patients CANNOT be receiving immunomodulatory drugs (Apoquel, mycophenolate, cyclosporine, azathioprine).
• Patients must be off prednisone for a minimum of 72 hours prior to CAR-T therapy.

Benefit:

• Complete cost of all treatments and rechecks are covered by study, including initial staging; up to $4,000 allotted for possible adverse events; $2,000 stipend for additional/future treatment at the VHC upon completion

• You pet will contribute to development of an important cancer therapy.

To Participate:

• Pet owners must be willing to transport their dog to and from the treatment center in Columbia, Missouri, for every visit abiding by specific timelines.

• A full screening will be performed prior to full study enrollment.

• Participation will require pets to come to our clinic for a minimum of seven visits over the first 21 days of the study, with future longer-term follow up appointments required, and/or until progression or relapse.

For more information on this study please contact: cvmclinicaltrials@missouri.edu with the subject pertaining to the trial of interest.

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center is enrolling patients into a clinical trial to assess whether using special stains for the sodium iodide symporter can allow us to identify tumors that are taking up iodine after a thyroid tumor has been removed. This would limit the need for expensive thyroid scans before surgery and increase the number of dogs that could be considered for additional treatment if their thyroid cancer is aggressive. 

Criteria:   

• Dogs with presumed thyroid carcinoma considered likely candidates for thyroidectomy 
• Patients who have received neoadjuvant radiation (external beam or I-131) or chemotherapy, exogenous iodine supplementation are not eligible.  

Benefit:   

• The pre-operative thyroid scan would allow radioactive iodine therapy to be considered as an option following surgery, if there were concerns that your dog’s thyroid tumor was more aggressive than usual. 
• After enrollment, the study will contribute $1,500 to cover associated clinical costs. This includes coverage of costs associated with the pre-operative thyroid scan, including sedation and hospital care (approximately ($1,055). 

To Participate: 

• Pet owners must be willing to move forward with surgical planning and resection of thyroid and surrounding lymph nodes.  
• A full screening will be performed prior to enrollment at the owner’s expense. 
  • Responsible for initial assessment and consultation to determine eligibility for the trial. 

For more information on this study please contact: cvmclinicaltrials@missouri.edu with the subject pertaining to the trial of interest.