When pet dogs are diagnosed with cancer, they typically get surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation — that is, of course, if their owner opts to treat it.
Now, a Silicon Valley startup wants to offer precision medicine instead — by recommending targeted therapies that are normally used to treat humans. For a price tag in the low four figures, depending on the veterinary clinic, the One Health Company will sequence a dog’s tumor and generate a report with recommendations.
The pitch is attracting some high-profile interest here in the Bay Area, where it’s not unusual for dog owners to spend tens of thousands of dollars to try to keep their beloved pet alive.
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As with some treatments for humans, the availability of new medical options has prompted a debate over whether pet owners may in some cases be prolonging the suffering of animals by pursuing aggressive care. Skeptics point to the many dogs in shelters who need homes — and to the many people with cancer who don’t get genetic sequencing of their tumors.
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[CEO Christina] Lopes, though, said her company is dedicated to improving cancer care not just for dogs, but for people, too. As her company profiles the tumors of dogs, it’s gathering a trove of valuable genetic data that Lopes hopes can help inform the development of therapies for humans.Read full, original post: With human drugs, a Silicon Valley startup hopes to deliver precision medicine to dogs
