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Toronto Animal Health Company to Fund Canada’s First-Ever Study on CBD’s Treatment of Cancer in Canines

CBD-study
TORONTO, November 4, 2019 – Grey Wolf Animal Health, a specialty animal health company focused on improving the lives and well-being of vets and pets in Canada, will fund a groundbreaking study examining the efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD) to treat bladder cancer in canines at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College. The three-year study is considered the first in Canada to test cannabis and the treatment of animal cancers.
“We are thrilled to be supporting this study at a Canadian veterinary school,” said Dr. Ian Sandler, Ontario Veterinary College Graduate and CEO and co-Founder of Grey Wolf Animal Health. “This research at the University of Guelph will meet a growing need for treatments in the exciting and emerging field of veterinary cannabinoid medicine.”
The study will explore CBD’s ability to treat bladder cancer in canines, with a focus on a common and hard-to-treat form of cancer known as urothelial carcinoma. It will also look at the effects of using CBD in tandem with radiation and chemotherapy. Veterinarians report that treatment results from radiation and chemotherapy alone are highly variable as most patients survive between three and twenty-four months. “This groundbreaking work will help us learn about the role of cannabinoids in cancer and advance this field of medical research in Canada,” said Jeff Wichtel, Ontario Veterinary College Dean. As well as exploring new treatment options for companion animals, the new study “could ultimately help in designing potential therapeutic options for the more aggressive form of bladder cancer in humans,” said lead researcher and OVC Professor, Sam Hocker.
In addition to providing one of Canada’s first cannabis research grants, Grey Wolf will supply cannabidiol oil for the three-year study. “At Grey Wolf, we value providing veterinary professionals with clinical evidence and education about cannabis as a therapeutic option for their patients,” said Dr. Sandler. “This is a great opportunity as an alumnus of the program to give back to the Ontario Veterinary College and improve our understanding of cannabis-based therapies for animals.”
Along with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and the Canadian Association of Veterinary Cannabinoid Medicine (CAVCM), Grey Wolf has been working tirelessly with the Government of Canada to ensure veterinarians can legally authorize the use of cannabis in companion animals. At present, veterinarians cannot authorize the use of cannabis in companion animals even though there is an emerging body of evidence that supports its safety and efficacy in treating conditions such as pain, seizures, arthritis and anxiety.
About Grey Wolf Animal Health
Grey Wolf Animal Health is a specialty animal health company focused on improving the lives and well-being of vets and pets in Canada. Founded in 2015 by Dr. Ian Sandler, their mission is to identify and bring to market products, solutions and services that meet the underserved needs of vets, pets and clinics across Canada.
About the Ontario Veterinary College
The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph is a world leader in advancing veterinary medicine and health research for the betterment of animals, people, and our planet. OVC educates the next generation of health leaders and provides high-value experiential learning opportunities through a comparative, cross-species approach to diagnostics, epidemiology, and preventive medicine aimed to find real-world solutions to real-world problems. The college ranked first in Canada, third in North America and seventh worldwide for veterinary science in 2019 (QS rankings).
For more information about the study, please contact:
Dr. Ian Sandler
Grey Wolf Animal Health
416-569-2298
Jane Dawkins
Ontario Veterinary College