Your Dog Has Cancer. There May Be an Option You Haven't Been Told About.
And just as importantly — what we cannot. This page is written for dog owners facing a cancer diagnosis. Everything here is honest. We will not oversell this treatment.
What a Personalised mRNA Cancer Vaccine Is
Every tumour is different. Your dog's cancer carries a unique set of mutations — changes in the DNA that make cancer cells different from healthy cells. Some of those mutations produce altered proteins on the surface of cancer cells that the immune system can, in principle, recognise and attack.
A personalised mRNA cancer vaccine is designed specifically for your dog's tumour. We sequence the tumour, identify the mutations, predict which ones the immune system is most likely to respond to, and encode them into an mRNA vaccine. When injected, the vaccine teaches your dog's immune system to recognise and attack cells carrying those mutations — including the tumour cells.
The mRNA degrades within days. It does not alter DNA. The delivery system — lipid nanoparticles — is the same technology used in billions of COVID-19 vaccine doses worldwide.
This is not experimental in the sense of being unproven science. Personalised mRNA cancer vaccines are in Phase III human clinical trials right now. What is new is applying this established science to dogs.
What to Realistically Expect
We owe you honesty before we ask for your money or your hope. Based on human clinical trial data — the most rigorous evidence available — here is what we expect for the first cohort of treated dogs.
Significant tumour shrinkage. Most likely in dogs with smaller, localised tumours, especially after surgical removal, and in tumours with a high number of mutations.
Some tumour shrinkage or halt in progression. The vaccine produces an immune response, but the tumour is partially evading it. This may extend quality of life without eliminating the cancer.
The vaccine fails to generate a sufficient immune response, or the tumour's evasion mechanisms are too strong. Most likely in advanced metastatic disease or tumours with few mutations.
For comparison: conventional chemotherapy for advanced canine cancers typically extends survival by 2–6 months with significant side effects and no prospect of remission. Surgery alone for aggressive tumours has high recurrence rates. The current standard of care for dogs that have failed surgery and chemotherapy is palliative — managing pain and maintaining quality of life while waiting.
A treatment that produces measurable tumour shrinkage in a third of such cases, and stabilisation in another quarter, represents a genuine advance over what exists today.
These numbers will change as we accumulate data from treated dogs. They may improve — particularly as neoantigen prediction algorithms learn from outcomes and as combination therapies with checkpoint inhibitors become available. They may also prove different from the human data in ways we cannot yet predict. We will update this page as real-world evidence replaces estimates.
The relevant comparison is not 'does this cure cancer' — nothing reliably cures advanced cancer in dogs today. The comparison is 'does this offer something better than the current standard of care.' For a dog that has exhausted surgery and chemotherapy, the current standard is palliative: manage pain, maintain comfort, wait. A treatment that produces measurable tumour shrinkage in a third of such cases, and stabilisation in another quarter, is a real step forward. It will not save every dog. But for the ones it helps, it can mean months or years of additional quality of life.
Which Dogs Are Good Candidates
Not every dog will benefit from this treatment. We will be honest with you about your dog's chances before you spend money.
More Likely to Respond
- Localised tumours, especially after surgical removal (adjuvant setting)
- Tumours with a high number of mutations (high tumour mutation burden)
- Earlier-stage disease where the immune system has not yet been fully suppressed
- Cancer types known to respond to immunotherapy: melanoma, mast cell tumours, certain carcinomas
Less Likely to Respond
- Widespread metastatic disease with large, established tumour burden
- Tumours with very few mutations (low TMB)
- Cancers that are inherently resistant to immune recognition
- Dogs with severely compromised immune systems
If the genomic analysis indicates your dog is unlikely to benefit — for example, if the tumour has too few mutations to generate meaningful vaccine targets — we will tell you before manufacturing begins. You will not be charged for a vaccine that has little chance of working.
Get an Honest Assessment for Your Dog
Tell us about your dog's diagnosis. We'll respond within 48 hours.
Treatment Cost
Treatment cost depends on the specific case and where we are in the programme. We share full pricing details during the initial assessment conversation — before any commitment is made. There is no consultation fee.
The cost covers the complete pipeline: tumour and germline whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing where available, computational neoantigen prediction, mRNA vaccine design and synthesis, lipid nanoparticle formulation, quality control testing, and cold-chain delivery to your veterinarian. Biopsy, administration, and follow-up visits are billed separately by your vet.
What Happens Step by Step
Get in touch
Contact us directly, or ask your veterinary oncologist to refer. We will discuss your dog's diagnosis, treatment history, and whether this approach is likely to be appropriate.
Your vet takes a biopsy
Your veterinary oncologist collects a tumour biopsy and a blood sample. We provide the shipping kit and coordinate the logistics to the sequencing laboratory.
We coordinate sequencing and analysis
Over 2–3 weeks, the tumour is sequenced, mutations are identified, and the best vaccine targets are selected. You receive a summary of the analysis and what we expect from the treatment.
The vaccine is manufactured
The custom mRNA vaccine is synthesised and formulated into lipid nanoparticles. Manufacturing takes 2–3 weeks. Quality control testing is performed before release.
Your vet administers the vaccine
The vaccine arrives at your vet's practice under cold chain. Your vet administers it — typically a simple injection. The process is no more invasive than a standard vaccination.
Monitoring
Follow-up imaging at 4, 8, and 12 weeks measures tumour response. We share the results with you and your vet, and the data contributes to improving treatment for future dogs.
Common Questions
How is this different from chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy uses toxic drugs that kill rapidly dividing cells — both cancer cells and healthy cells, which is why it causes side effects like nausea and immune suppression. A personalised mRNA vaccine works differently: it teaches the immune system to specifically recognise and attack cancer cells based on their unique mutations, without affecting healthy cells. The side effect profile is much milder — typically limited to injection-site reactions and mild fatigue, similar to a standard vaccination.
Will this cure my dog?
We cannot promise a cure. Based on human clinical data, we expect roughly a third of treated dogs to show significant tumour shrinkage, another quarter to experience partial response or stabilisation, and the remainder to show no measurable benefit. For dogs that respond, the treatment can extend quality of life by months or potentially years. We are honest about these odds because you deserve to make an informed decision.
What are the side effects?
The mRNA and lipid nanoparticle platform has been used in billions of human COVID-19 vaccine doses with a well-characterised safety profile. The most common side effects are mild and temporary: injection-site tenderness, mild fatigue, and occasionally low-grade fever. These typically resolve within 24–48 hours. Serious adverse events are rare but cannot be excluded in a new application.
How long does the whole process take?
Approximately 4–6 weeks from tumour biopsy to first vaccine injection. The main time drivers are genomic sequencing (1–2 weeks), computational analysis (about 1 week), and mRNA manufacturing (2–3 weeks). We will keep you informed at each stage.
What if it doesn't work?
If the vaccine does not produce a measurable tumour response, the genomic data can be re-analysed to identify mutations that were missed or that have emerged. A second vaccine targeting different neoantigens can be designed. However, we will also be honest with you if the data suggests that further treatment is unlikely to help — we will not encourage you to spend money on a treatment that has little chance of benefiting your dog.
Do I need a referral from my vet?
A veterinary oncologist must be involved — they perform the biopsy, prescribe the vaccine, and administer it. You can contact us directly and we will help coordinate with your vet, or your vet can refer you. Either way works.
Where are you based? Can I access this from outside Switzerland?
We are based in Switzerland and operate under the Swiss Formula magistralis regulatory framework. We can coordinate treatment for dogs across Europe — the sequencing, analysis, and manufacturing are handled remotely, and the vaccine is shipped to your vet under cold chain. Your vet must be willing to prescribe and administer under their local clinical authority.
Tell Us About Your Dog
If your dog has been diagnosed with cancer and you want to explore whether this treatment could help, get in touch. We will give you an honest assessment — no obligation, no pressure.
Response within 48 hours.