IMMUNOCIDIN®. A veterinary biologic for the treatment of mixed mammary tumors and mammary adenocarcinomas in dogs.

Immunocidin® is a veterinary biologic for the treatment of mammary cancer in dogs. It's based on Bioniche's proprietary mycobacterial cell wall (MCW) technology platform, derived from Mycobacterium phlei.

Proprietary MCW Technology

Mycobacteria, especially their cell walls, have been known for many years to be active against a variety of tumors. Immunocidin® is an emulsion of mycobacterial cell wall fractions which have been modified to reduce their toxic and allergic effect but retain their immunomodulatory and anti‑tumor activity. Immunocidin® stimulates the activation of a variety of cytokines and lymphocytes which in turn display potent anti‑tumor activity.

Administration and Dosage

Immunocidin® is administered only by intratumoral injection. Carefully and thoroughly infiltrate the tumor. Avoid intravascular injection. Larger tumors may require more than one needle stick to infiltrate the entire mass. The injection may produce pain in some animals; sedation or analgesics may be required. The emulsion separates on standing; it is important to mix it thoroughly prior to administration. Shake or rotate the vial until the emulsion has a homogeneous "milky" appearance.

Dosage varies with tumor size, but generally 0.2 mL to 2.5 mL is administered per treatment (in dogs with more than one tumor, total dose is divided among tumors). 1 mL should be considered a minimum dose for the average dog; however, dose may be adjusted down (0.2 mL to 0.5 mL) for geriatric and smaller dogs.

Adverse Reactions

Mild fever, drowsiness, and an increased metabolic rate leading to decreased appetite may occur for one to two days following an Immunocidin® injection. These are all normal responses to the release of cytokines. Local inflammation (marked swelling and pain) often occurs following treatment, and may require the use of analgesics. Therapy should be discontinued until the reaction has subsided. Necrosis with suppuration often occurs in regressing tumours and clients should be informed that the treated area may drain for several weeks.

Treatment Protocols

Most dogs require three to four treatments. Tumors that fail to respond after four treatments should be considered refractory, and therapy discontinued.Treatments should be repeated every one- to three-weeks.

Recommended treatment protocols

  • Immunocidin™ as the sole treatment with administrations at one to three week intervals.
  • Pre-operative Immunocidin™ treatment two to four weeks prior to surgical excision.
  • Treatment two to four weeks post-operatively to reduce the risk of recurrence and metastatic disease.

In the licensing studies for intratumoral treatment of mammary cancer in dogs, where M. phlei compounds were used as the sole treatment, the average age of the dogs was 10.7 years, the average number of treatments was three to four, and the average dose per treatment was 2.5 mL (2.5 mg of the biologically active compound (BAC)). There

was no difference in age, dose, or treatments for either mixed mammary tumour or mammary adenocarcinoma.

In all cases, the immunotherapy was well-tolerated, even in older dogs and in some animals which had health complications including chronic cardiovascular and renal disease. The study found that 88% of dogs treated with M. phlei compounds as the sole treatment for mammary cancer were tumor‑free two years later. 1

Intratumoral administration of Immunocidin® induces strong cell-mediated response which, in turn, directs the destruction of cancer cells. Remissions cannot be guaranteed as each tumor will have a variable response. Immunocidin® is USDA- and CFIA‑licensed for use in canine mammary tumors.

1. Ragland et al., Licensing Study Data on File.

A new era in veterinary cancer medication

Cancer is the leading cause of death in pets over two years of age and small animal cancer cases are prevalent in the weekly caseload of every veterinary hospital across North America. Veterinarians are faced with limited availability of licensed treatment options, challenges linked to handling off-label human chemotherapeutic agents and availability of referral centres, as well as client budgetary constraints.

The introduction of M. phlei-derived veterinary oncology products represents a significant advancement in the therapeutic options available for oncology cases in veterinary medicine.

These novel biologically active compounds have demonstrated a distinct and unique mechanism of action that allows them to be used independently or synergistically with other oncology therapies and will provide general practitioners as well as veterinary oncologists a wider range of treatment options for small animal cancer cases.

Treatment of benign mixed mammary tumors

breed Age Location of tumor Times Treated Total dose (mL) Results
Poodle 10 R-3; R-4; L-4 3 each 3.5; 2.25; 2.0 Remission
Poodle 10 R-4; L-3 3 each 3.0; 9.0 Remission when euthanized 2 years later
Poodle 10 R-4; L-3 2 each 4.0; 10.0 Died*. 58% regression in R-4, 60% regression in L-3
Boston Terrier 13 R-2 3 3.5 Remission
Mixed 14 R-3 3 6.0 Remission

*Patient was presented with a systolic heart murmur of the left A-V valve. A post-mortem examination revealed changes of heart and lung which were indicative of congestive heart failure due to malfunction of the left A-V valve.

Treatment of mammary adenocarcinoma

breed Age Location of tumor Times Treated Total dose (mL) Results
Mixed 7.5 R-3 3 20.0 80% regression when surgically excised
Mixed 10 R-5 2 3.5 Remission
Mixed 14 ?; ? 8 Each 23.5; 21.5 Neither tumor had responded when dog was killed in an auto accident
Daschund 8 L-3 6 30.0 Remission
Terrier/Chihuahua 11 R-5 3 6.0 Remission
Sheltie 14 R-5 3 6.0 Remission
Daschund 8 L-4 3 4.5 Remission

United StatesCanada

Where to Buy Immunocidin®

USA

A & G Pharmaceuticals

Clarksburg,NJ

Phone: 800 634 5601

Allpharm

Ridgeland, MS

Phone: 888 440 1277

NovaVive USA Inc.

Nationwide

Phone: 1-844-663-3349

Email: sales@novavive.ca

Vedco

Nationwide

Website: vedco.com

Animal Health International

Nationwide

Website: animalhealthinternational.com

MWI Veterinary Supply

Nationwide

Phone: 1 800 824 3703

Canada

Associated Veterinary Purchasing Company Limited

27533 - 50th Avenue Langley, BC V4W 0A2

Phone: (604) 856-2110

Fax: (604) 856-2115

CDMV

2999 boulevard Choquette, C.P. Box 608 St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 7C2

Phone: (450) 771-23680

Fax: (450) 773-4370

Midwest Veterinary Purchasing Cooperative Ltd.

1600 Inkster Boulevard Winnipeg, MB R2X 2W4

Phone: (204) 233-8155

Fax: (204) 233-8169

Veterinary Purchasing Company Ltd.

Phone: (519) 284-1371

Fax: (519) 284-2361

Western Drug Distribution Centre Limited

17611 - 109 A Avenue Edmonton, AB T5S 2W4

Phone: (780) 413-2508

Fax: (780) 413-2530

Downloads

Brochures/Info Sheets

References

  1. Ragland et al., Licensing study data on file.
  2. Mangieri,J;Tondi,A: Tratamiento del osteosarcoma apendicular canino. REDVET (Revista Electrónica de Veterinaria – Veterinaria.org) www.veterinaria.org/revistas/redvet Nro 11 (vol. IV); 2003; 17* Mangieri,J.;Fiallos,R.;Van der Linden,I.: TRATAMIENTO MULTIDISCIPLINARIO (cirugía + quimioinmunoterapia) EN EL OSTEOSARCOMA (OSA) CANINO: informe preliminar. Ciencia Veterinaria 23:31,1995.
  3. Mangieri,J: Tratamiento del tumor venéreo transmisible genital del canino con quimioinmunoterapia. REDVET (Revista Electrónica de Veterinaria – Veterinaria.org). www.veterinaria.org/revistas/redvet Nro 10 (vol. IV); 2003.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about Immunocidin®, please download the Q&A sheet. If that does not answer your question, please contact us.

In the U.S.A., call

1-844-663-3349

or send an e-mail to sales@novavive.ca

NovaVive USA Inc.
119 Rowe Road
Athens, GA 30601 USA

TEL: (706) 549-3349
TOLL-FREE: 1-844-663-3349
FAX: (706) 548-3438

In Canada, call

613-391-3837

or send an e-mail to sales@novavive.ca

NovaVive Inc.
PO Box 3005, RR#7
Belleville, ON K8N 4Z7 Canada

TEL: (613) 391-3837

© NovaVive Inc.