What if you could give your dog medication to make them live longer? It feels like a dream scenario right? Well, it could soon be a reality with the announcement of a new injection that could increase the lifespan of dogs. But is this all it seems? And what are the potential drawbacks? I’ve taken a deep dive into this sensational news. 

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How does it work?

The new drug, which has been developed by veterinary biotech company ‘Loyal for Dogs’, is called LOY-001 (catchy right?). 

It works by limiting the power of a growth-related hormone called insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 is responsible for stimulating growth and metabolism in all cell types in the body. 

Studies have shown that large and giant breed dogs have increased levels of IGF-1, as a result of selective breeding. And that this is (presumably!) why they age faster and have shorter lifespans when compared to smaller dog breeds. 

So it is believed that by reducing levels of IGF-1, dogs will be able to live longer. 

How is it administered and which dogs are eligible?

The first drug that the company hopes to market is suitable for dogs 7 years of age or older and weighing at least 18kgs. It will be delivered by a six monthly injection that must be performed by a vet. 

However the company is planning to develop further drugs, one that can be used in all but the very smallest dog breeds, and a pill-form of the drug for larger breeds. 

Potential drawbacks

Before we get too excited about this drug and its potential to make our best friends live longer, I think we should be mindful of a number of potential practical and ethical drawbacks.

There’s still a way to go to prove it’s effective and safe

Firstly, this drug has not been tested in clinical trials. It is not entirely clear how the company have carried out their research so far; but from what I’ve read it looks like they’ve tested the drugs on dogs in a laboratory setting. They’ve then studied dogs in a ‘real-world setting’ with the same biomarkers to see how they are impacted by aging. So basically they haven’t tested the drug on dogs who live in normal homes with their owners and who lead normal lives. A laboratory setting and ‘real-world’ setting are two completely different things and a large number of drugs shown to be effective in a laboratory are not shown to be effective in the ‘real world’.

There could be potential for unintended health impacts

IGF-1 doesn’t just play a role in aging, it has other important functions such as controlling metabolism – it instructs the cells of the body to process nutrients. Reducing IGF-1 might slow down aging but could it have other unintended consequences that could lead to health issues? This is potentially even more of an issue when you bear in mind that we are giving drugs to otherwise healthy dogs – not those that are already sick.

Does it increase healthspan as well as lifespan?

The company claims that the injection increases both the lifespan and healthspan of dogs who receive it. It is vital that it does both – and that we see evidence of this, if and when it comes to market. If it only impacts lifespan, then although a dog receiving the injection might live longer, it will still be afflicted by health issues that come with old age. Is it really fair to make them live longer through a painful age-related condition?

There are bound to be situations where it wouldn’t be ethical

On the same note, how will vets weigh up when it is ethical to give this medication? What about a dog with a chronic condition such as epilepsy? And if a vet refuses to give an injection, will the owner just go to multiple vets until one gives in?

What about owners who can’t afford it

How much will this drug cost? Does this open up an avenue for only the rich to be able to afford to help their dogs live longer? This could lead to feelings of guilt and shame in owners who cannot afford it. A lot of owners view their dog’s as their children, do we really want to see people taking out second mortgages on their homes just so they can afford this? 

Is it right to make these decisions for our pets?

Lastly, we need to remember that we are making this decision for our pets, they have no say in the matter. This is the case with any veterinary medicine, but usually we give drugs to treat (often painful) conditions, or to protect animals from disease. I think it comes down to whether a short lifespan is seen as a welfare issue or not. Many would argue that it is, many would argue quality over quantity, after all, our pets don’t know how long they are likely to live. 

When will the drug come to market?

The FDA controls which medicines (human and veterinary) can be sold on the US market. 

This drug is on one of FDA’s fast-track programmes for veterinary drugs that meet an unmet clinical need i.e. there are no other drugs that do the same thing. The fast-track programme allows the FDA to grant the company conditional approval to come to the market early.  

The company has passed one part of their conditional approval. In a nutshell this part means that the FDA has looked at the evidence behind the drug so far and agrees that the company is taking a reasonable approach. But the company still needs to pass through a second stage before they receive their conditional approval. 

If the company does receive conditional approval, they will be able to sell the drug on the US market and collect safety data, this isn’t anticipated to happen until 2026 (if at all). They will need to make it very clear that the drug has not received a full approval; and vets in turn will need to make this clear to owners. Once they have enough data, they can apply to the FDA for full approval. 

The company will need approval from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in order to sell on the UK market. 

Conclusion

This is exciting news, but we shouldn’t get carried away, there’s no guarantee this drug will make it to market, and if it does, there’s a long way to go. We also need to think about some of the potential drawbacks and ethical dilemmas that this drug could cause. Having said that, it is truly amazing to see what science can do for us and our pets. 

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