The battle against canine cancer now includes a new weapon. Last June, the FDA gave the official thumbs-up to the first drug developed specifically to treat cancer in dogs. Palladia is approved to treat canine cutaneous (Skin-based) mast cell tumors, a type of cancer responsible for about one in five cases of canine skin tumors. The medication is approved to treat those tumors, wether or not nearby lymph nodes are affected.
Until now, all cancer drugs used in veterinary medicine were originally developed for use in humans and haven't been approved by the FDA for use in animals.
Palladia, a prescription drug called a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is given orally to dogs and is not for human use. It works in two ways: by killing tumor cells and by cutting off the blood supply to the tumor.
Source: FDA
