FDA Approves First Dog Lymphoma Drugs: Tanovea & Laverdia

For decades, veterinarians treated dog lymphoma with human chemotherapy drugs, relying on borrowed medicines without formal testing in canines. That frustrating gap just closed with two breakthrough approvals that are transforming cancer care for our four-legged friends.

Tanovea became the first FDA-approved drug specifically designed to treat canine lymphoma when it earned full approval in July 2021. Developed by biotech company VetDC and brought to market by Elanco, this injectable medication works by blocking DNA synthesis in rapidly dividing cancer cells, offering a mechanism tailored to how lymphoma grows in dogs.

The drug addresses a massive need. Lymphoma strikes roughly 20 to 24 out of every 100,000 dogs annually, with rates jumping to 80 per 100,000 in dogs aged 10 to 11 years. It accounts for up to 25 percent of all canine cancers, making it one of the most common malignancies veterinarians encounter.

Before Tanovea, vets adapted human CHOP chemotherapy protocols for dogs, using combinations of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone. While these off-label treatments could induce remission in over 80 percent of dogs with B-cell lymphoma, they lacked species-specific dosing guidelines and formal safety data for canines.

Then in 2021, Laverdia joined the fight as the first oral treatment for canine lymphoma. This pill form gives pet owners another option, particularly helpful for dogs or families who struggle with frequent vet visits for injections.

Together, the two drugs represent a shift toward human-style precision medicine in veterinary care. Vets can now combine injectable and oral agents based on disease type, previous treatments, and what works best for each family.

The Bright Side

The approvals signal something bigger than two new drugs. They prove that companion animal medicine deserves the same rigorous research and development that human oncology receives. Pet cancer is no longer an afterthought borrowing from human medicine.

For the tens of thousands of dog owners who hear "lymphoma" each year, these FDA-approved options bring hope backed by solid science. Veterinarians now have labeled, evidence-based therapies with clear dosing and safety profiles designed specifically for the patients they're treating.

The drugs also pave the way for more veterinary-specific cancer research, potentially leading to treatments for other common pet cancers. When pharmaceutical companies see successful approvals like Tanovea and Laverdia, they're more likely to invest in animal-specific drug development.

Dogs diagnosed with lymphoma today have something their predecessors didn't: medicines created just for them, tested in their species, and proven to work.