I can certainly file this under the “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda” category…
We’d just completed the final chemo treatment when our veterinarian suggested we look into getting Cat’s DNA tested through a company she’d recently heard about: “FidoCure.”
Of course, I went right to researching…& what I unearthed both blew my mind & left me kicking myself. As mentioned, I work in clinical research (for humans) and my small arm (of a massive corporation) specializes in using artificial intelligence (AI) & machine learning (ML) to advance our approach to drug development. How could I not have known about FidoCure??
Actually, in hindsight, maybe I can answer that. I vaguely recall hearing about doggie DNA sequencing right after we received the diagnosis — but also that it took weeks to get the results. At the time, we didn’t have weeks to wait on something that would only tell us more about her cancer. Or so I thought.
…I wish I’d paid more attention back then, rather than allow myself to buy into the doom-and-gloom picture painted by “experts” who aren’t bothering to think outside the box.
Anyhow, it turns out this biotech startup is revolutionizing canine cancer research, using state-of-the-art technology that integrates genomic sequencing with artificial intelligence & real-world data to provide customized recommendations for targeted treatment options. Why is Cat a good candidate? Well, not only does hemangiosarcoma have multiple physiological subtypes; it also has multiple molecular subtypes — and identifying an individual dog’s genetic mutations can lead to personalized drug therapies that specifically hone in on a given gene.
With all other research telling me the treatments for hemangiosarcoma had remained largely stagnant for nearly 50 years, this was an inspiring revelation.
How FidoCure Works
(I will do my best to break this down…)
DNA Sequencing: A tissue sample from the dog’s tumor is submitted for DNA sequencing. And, yes, we were surprised to find out that the hospital where she had the splenectomy was still storing the tissue sample five months later. It’s apparently pretty commonplace, so don’t lose hope thinking too much time has passed.
Mutation Identification: FidoCure analyzes the genetic data, pinpointing key mutations that may influence treatment.
- AI-driven Insights Using Real World Data: Your dog’s genetic profile is fed into their proprietary AI engine called Fetch™ which holds over two billion data points from the world’s largest canine cancer database to uncover complex connections between genetic makeup and targeted therapies, enabling precise predictions of the most effective treatments for individual dogs.
Targeted Therapy Recommendations: The process culminates with a comprehensive genomic report detailing mutations found, their implications, prospective therapeutic approaches to address the mutations, and how these drugs work. Based on this report, your dog’s veterinarian can prescribe targeted drugs, often administered orally at home. …Yes, that means more pills, but maybe the most important pills of all.
For us, the biggest appeal is the targeted approach. I hated the idea of traditional chemotherapy — essentially carpet-bombing this 80lb soul’s body with poison, hoping to hurt the bad stuff while also destroying healthy cells as collateral damage. The drugs recommended by this report specifically attack the bad cells while inflicting much less destruction on the rest of your dog’s body relative to what we’d been doing with the doxorubicin.
The cost? $1250 (plus $31 for the tissue sample preparation and shipment). Add it to my bill! I thought we’d exhausted our Western medical interventions with the chemo, so if there is more I can do to duel this deadly disease AND with minimal fallout, then sign me up.
Want to learn more? Visit FidoCure and be sure to consult with your veterinarian.
Next up: Cat’s FidoCure Results
Update:
I had not even considered that Cat’s health insurance might cover the cost of the FidoCure test until her veterinarian suggested it, so we submitted the claim, and in fact, insurance covered the cost (minus our co-insurance)! Thank you, Healthy Paws Insurance! Now, we wait for the DNA report…
