VetDC

VetDC is a company based in Fort Collins, CO, that repurposes shelved and discarded biotechnologies from human healthcare for veterinary applications. Its primary focus is on developing treatments for cancer in companion animals like dogs and cats. In March 2011, VetDC acquired an exclusive North American license for GS-9219, an antiproliferative agent developed by Gilead Sciences, for veterinary use. Rebranded as VDC-1101, the molecule preferentially targets and kills lymphoid cells, inducing apoptosis. Clinical trials in May 2009 showed that 79% of 38 dogs with non-Hodgkin lymphoma experienced tumor regression after treatment with VDC-1101. As of September 2011, around 70 client-owned dogs with cancer had been treated with the drug. With no approved drugs specifically for canine lymphoma, VDC-1101 has the opportunity to become the first FDA-approved product for the condition.

VetDC is also testing a surgical implant from Aqueous Biomedical to treat glaucoma in pets. The novel drainage device, implanted in the outer eye layer, relieves pressure causing pain, discomfort, and blindness. Additionally, the company has licensed a point-of-care detection kit from MicroPhage that uses bacteriophage amplification to identify drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, a problem afflicting veterinary clinics.

Through its association with Colorado State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital, VetDC can leverage existing data from preclinical animal trials conducted there, providing a headstart for commercialization. The university connection allows access to potential opportunities from biotechnology firms running studies at the facility.