Biotherapies are big news in veterinary medicine. They include monoclonal antibodies — or mAbs [pronounced as a word, not letters: măbs] — and agents that boost the immune system.
mAbs target precise molecules in the body. Because they’re made for a particular species, they have to be developed separately for dogs and cats. That accounts for their higher cost, but their effectiveness and relatively few side effects usually offset it.
Three mAbs are currently approved for veterinary use — one for dogs with atopic [ā-TOP-ĭc] dermatitis and one each for cats and dogs with arthritis.
Another type of biotherapy involves veterinary vaccines for cancer — most commonly malignant melanoma. These vaccines are made from tumor cells, and once injected, they can help patients produce antibodies against that cancer.
Researchers are busy developing more biotherapies for animals, so stay tuned.