SCI Drug designed to extend dogs' lives takes major step toward FDA approval

Cardinal

Cardinal

Chickministrator
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A drug that could extend large dogs' lifespans and help keep them healthier as they age is one step closer to coming to the market.

Why it matters: Bigger dogs live shorter lives than smaller dogs "by nearly half," notes a statement from Loyal for Dogs, which announced Tuesday that the drug it's developing, LOY-001, had cleared a key FDA regulatory hurdle required in the approval process.

Driving the news: The San Francisco-based biotech company said the experimental drug that still has to undergo clinical trials had met the "reasonable expectation of effectiveness" section requirement for the FDA's expanded conditional approval — "an accelerated pathway for animal drugs that aims to increase the availability of innovative therapies."

  • A U.S. Food and Drug Administration official said in a letter that Loyal shared with the New York Times: "The data you provided are sufficient to show that there is a reasonable expectation of effectiveness."
Context: The average lifespan for larger dogs is about 8 to 12 years, per the American Kennel Club. Bernese mountain dogs' and Great Danes' life expectancy is 7-10 years and 8-10 years, respectively, the AKC notes.

  • For small breeds, the average is 10 to 15 years — though Chihuahuas can live for up to 20 years.
Zoom in: The veterinarian-administered drug is designed to be a long-acting product given to large- and giant-breed dogs every three to six months, according to Loyal.

  • The FDA based its decision on data Loyal submitted that included studies showing LOY-001's ability to reduce levels of key growth hormone insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) "and the beneficial impact on functional outcomes in dogs," according to the company.
  • "This was further supported by a large observational study of the functional and biomarker impacts of canine aging. The study involved 452 companion dogs of 84 different breeds, aged two to 18. It validated the clinical relevance of the functional outcomes seen in Loyal's earlier studies."
What we're watching: Loyal hopes to gain FDA approval by 2026.




  • "We're going to be going for claiming at least one year of healthy life span extension," said Celine Halioua, the founder and CEO of Loyal, to the NYT.
Between the lines: Danika Bannasch, a veterinary geneticist at the University of California, Davis, who was involved in a study published last month that found the gene ERBB4 could be a factor in dog longevity, told Wired IGF-1 was one believed driver of dog size and lifespan.

  • "As for targeting it, I think it's a bit premature. We know that smaller breed dogs live longer than larger breed dogs, but we don't know how much of that is due to the influence of IGF-1," she added.
The bottom line: Halioua told Axios San Francisco in August: "We're not making immortal dogs, to be clear, but that rate of aging will be slower, hopefully, which means the pet will be in a healthier state for longer. And that's fundamental to all of the biology of what we're doing."
 
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Wildwood

Veteran Member
I've owned a chihuahua most of my life...I'd have to sit down and count them all to remember how many and I've never had one live past 12. Labs are my favorite for large breed dogs and they are the same...most make it to about 12 and a few months.

Our oldest dog that we know of was a lab mix that made it to 17. We did have a hound show up here that may have lived even longer but we both forgot what year he showed up. He looked to be 18 to 24 months when he moved in. I loved that dog so much. He had patches of brindle and patches of ticking. People come here from all over the US to compete in field trials for high dollar hunting dogs and I figure he was either the progeny of one of those males and a local girl or was acatually hunted in one of them and got lost...he looked like he was worth a million but was his own man. I cry now just thinking about having to let him go...broke my heart but he had the best life ever with us.

I'm wondering about the price of this new drug and if it's even a possibility for working class folks.
 
dioptase

dioptase

Veteran Member
I've had a Dal mix make it to almost 13, ditto a GSD/Lab mix make it to maybe just over 13. (Both rescues, but best as we and the vets could figure.) Our most recent dog had so many health problems (ultimately kidney disease) that he fell short of 11 by a little over a month. We still cry over him (coming up on one year gone a week from now); how I wish we still had him.
 
psychgirl

psychgirl

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Hmm
I don’t know how I feel about all this.

Fiddling with genetics via an injection?
I’ll wait for further information on that before jumping to yea or nay.

As an aside, we have several little dogs in our care that are living happily far above 10 years of age. LOTS, of them, actually.
 
Cardinal

Cardinal

Chickministrator
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Wildwood said:
I'm wondering about the price of this new drug and if it's even a possibility for working class folks.
Click to expand...
Right now it is in trials.
My nephew owns English Bull Mastiffs, and has enrolled both his dogs in the trial. (Through his Vet)
It is a once a month shot, no idea of the cost.
Nephew has no children, he and his wife make a very "comfortable" living.
Call your Vet and ask.
 
coalcracker

coalcracker

Veteran Member
Brought to you from the good folks at the Frankendog division of Pfizer.

Maybe Dr. Fauci is a veterinarian, too? Maybe Donald Trump can make fun of Joe Biden’s dogs for not getting on board with Operation Woof Speed?

We all want more time with our beloved pets.

We’ve been taken up to the pinnacle of the temple, and a voice has said, “See your beloved pet? I can give you more time to be together. I know you want this - if you would just do this one thing….”
 
Cardinal

Cardinal

Chickministrator
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coalcracker said:
Brought to you from the good folks at the Frankendog division of Pfizer.

Maybe Dr. Fauci is a veterinarian, too? Maybe Donald Trump can make fun of Joe Biden’s dogs for not getting on board with Operation Woof Speed?

We all want more time with our beloved pets.

We’ve been taken up to the pinnacle of the temple, and a voice has said, “See your beloved pet? I can give you more time to be together. I know you want this - if you would just do this one thing….”
Click to expand...
I suspect that they are sincere in trying to make dogs live longer for this one reason: they are looking to extend the human lifespan.
If it works in the dogs, the next will be human trials, after some tweaking.
 
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WalknTrot

Veteran Member
It is sad that the giant breeds have such a short lifespan. My experience has been with a friend who raised English Mastiffs. Jeepers - great doofy family dogs if you can deal with the size, gas issues and drooling, but they only average a 7 year lifespan. The OP introduces an interesting concept, but I remain skeptical. Guess I'd not ever be an "early adopter" of a treatment like that, firmly believing in letting others be the guinea pig...

Most of my dogs (except for the little hound who I suspect had a blowout heart attack at 8YO) have lived several years past their "due date". Even the Chocolate Labs, who have a significantly shorter average lifespan than blacks or yellows (almost two years less), and a buttload more skin and allergy issues, have lived to 13.

Now there is a path for research - what genetics are attached to that Lab color trait in what can otherwise be littermates that makes such a difference in longevity.
 
Zahra

Zahra

Veteran Member
Cardinal said:
I suspect that they are sincere in trying to make dogs live longer for this one reason: they are looking to extend the human lifespan.
If it works in the dogs, the next will be human trials, after some tweaking.
Click to expand...
Exactly, but it won't be affordable for common folks
 
Griz3752

Griz3752

Retired, practising Curmudgeon
I'm all for anything to improve and lengthen a dog's life span so long as they go hand in hand.

The skeptic in me says don't be surprised if this morphs into a project to do the same for humans.

There's potential liability for Govt. to pay our more benefits but, we'll work longer so we'll generate more taxable income and, those folks will have their dog buddies.
 
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earthbud

Contributing Member
I would also do a hard pass on this chemical cocktail. My last 2 dogs were golden retrievers, and I would have loved even more time with these sweet dogs. They both lived to 16+ years old, but were in declining health the last couple of years.

If this chemical concoction guaranteed a good quality of life along with the extra time I might consider it. But the article says, "We're not making immortal dogs, to be clear, but that rate of aging will be slower, hopefully, which means the pet will be in a healthier state for longer."

Hopefully isn't good enough. They have no idea what this will do to the animal long term.
 
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summerthyme

Administrator
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If people *really * wanted dogs that lived longer, breeders could probably make significant strides towards that within a few generations. For starters, put more weight on the longevity of the dogs in the pedigree than whether they have perfect markings!

But most of the difference is going to still be in owners hands. Feed *quality* food, and *don't* let them get fat. Make sure they get exercise daily! If possible, find a vet who doesn't insist on yearly vaccinations... cancer levels in dogs can be tracked right along with the increase in numbers and frequency of vaccines. Don't chip them! (Same issue... cancer risks)

Obviously, everyone has a different situation... with our farm dogs, the risk of them catching canine influenza or distemper was very low... if I had to take them to a public dog park, I would probably either have the vet run titers, or booster them every 3-4 years. If we traveled with our dogs frequently, the chance of losing them in a strange place might trump the risk of chipping them.

Our Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler cross lived to 17, with zero "routine" vet care and a typical farm diet... milk, grain stolen from the cows, table scraps and a decent quality working dog kibble. Her daughter by a Border Collie died of a stroke at almost 15. Our Akita was a healthy 11 year old when she developed bloat and twisted a stomach... without that (preventable... one of the kids meant well but overfed her "treats" after Thanksgiving), she may have lived for several years.

Dixie and Prince will be 12 in April... if she makes if that long. She looks and acts good, but has a steadily growing kidney tumor. FenBen seems to have slowed the growth, but I'm under no illusions she will live as long as her mother (who is 15 and healthy) or grandsire, who died at 17 years 9 months.

Modern vet medicine is as much of a 2 edged sword as human medicine! We can save badly injured pets through surgery that wasn't even possible in humans 40 years ago, but the routine care has turned into a money machine, with questionable benefits.

As far as this new "miracle" drug... I'll give it several generations of testing. Even if it proves safe, I'm guessing few people will be able to afford it.

Summerthyme
 
Ractivist

Ractivist

Pride comes before the fall.....Pride month ended.
How does one quantify years of extended life.....? One can't. One can sell a drug to the marketplace promising it might increase a dogs life by a year, but one can't ever conclude it worked...especially in the short run...

Pharma is expanding its markets. follow the money
 
Seeker22

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Multi-pet households will not benefit from this extra longevity. I have lived dog grief up close and personal. Mourning howls in Catahoulas are soul wrenching. Individuals, crying, screaming, whimpering for their lost beloved ones for months. No sign of physical problems.

Why one earth would I extend their life so they can spend it grieving? Sometimes dying is a gift. Their Pack Integrity and who they all were as Dogs trumped any pleasure I would get from extending their lives. I wonder if any of these mad scientist types have ever experienced a multi pet household? Before foisting this monsterous idea off on one, they need to feel the burn.
 
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