Frontiers in Veterinary Science paper reports rapid, significant pain relief with weekly p62-plasmid injections and no significant side-effects
BOSTON, June 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CureLab Veterinary Inc., a pioneer in developing innovative veterinary therapeutics to combat cancer and inflammatory diseases in pets, announced publication of a peer-reviewed pilot study demonstrating that ElenaVet™, the company’s investigational p62-plasmid gene therapy, markedly reduced chronic osteoarthritis (OA) pain in companion dogs while exhibiting an excellent safety profile. The article, titled “Efficacy of p62-expressing plasmid in treatment of canine osteoarthritis pain: a pilot study,” appears in Frontiers in Veterinary Science (DOI 10.3389/fvets.2025.1519881).
Frontiers in Veterinary Science (June 2025) features CureLab Veterinary’s peer-reviewed pilot study showing 90 % treatment-success with ElenaVet™ p62-plasmid gene therapy for canine osteoarthritis (DOI 10.3389/fvets.2025.1519881)
Key findings
- 17 client-owned dogs with radiographically confirmed OA received 1 mg intramuscular ElenaVet™ once a week for 10 weeks.
- Pain Severity Score (PSS) fell from 5.25 → 3.25 and Pain Interference Score (PIS) from 7.0 → 3.27 on the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI).
- 90% of dogs met the study’s pre-defined “treatment success” criteria (≥1-point PSS drop and ≥2-point PIS drop). Quality-of-life ratings of “good/excellent” rose from 1 to 12 dogs.
- First owner-noticed improvements occurred within 2–4 weeks; scores plateaued by week 6.
- No significant adverse events—no vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, or lab abnormalities—were reported during treatment.
Executive & scientific commentary
“ElenaVet™ has now shown—in a rigorous, peer-reviewed setting—that a weekly gene-based therapy can deliver meaningful, durable pain relief without the organ-toxicity risks of long-term NSAID use,” said Robert Devlin, general manager of CureLab Veterinary. “These results put us on a clear path toward larger, controlled trials and eventual U.S. approval.”
“The p62 plasmid dampens multiple inflammatory pathways simultaneously,” added Vladimir Gabai, PhD, chief science officer and lead author of the study. “Because we encode p62 in a simple plasmid, we can administer a low-dose injection that teaches muscle cells to make the dog’s own anti-inflammatory agent—no complex biologic manufacturing or cold chain required.”
Addressing a widespread unmet need
Osteoarthritis affects an estimated one in five adult dogs; chronic use of standard NSAIDs can raise blood pressure, cause gastric ulcers and, in some cases, damage kidneys or liver. ElenaVet™ aims to offer a safer, compliance-friendly alternative—potentially as monthly or “as-needed” injections, once dose-frequency optimization studies are complete.
Next steps
CureLab Veterinary has initiated discussions with the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) to finalize pivotal study protocols assessing dose range, durability of effect and long-term safety. With adequate funding, the company anticipates submitting a licensing application within 2–3 years.
About ElenaVet™
ElenaVet™ is a circular DNA plasmid encoding the SQSTM1/p62 protein, delivered via intramuscular injection. The therapy is designed to up-regulate the body’s own anti-inflammatory mediators, providing multimodal relief from chronic inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis.
About CureLab Veterinary Inc.
CureLab Veterinary Inc. is a pioneering biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative cancer treatments for pets. The company’s mission is to help pets live longer, healthier, and happier lives by providing them with access to the most advanced therapies available. CureLab Veterinary is committed to advancing the field of veterinary oncology through research, development, and collaboration with leading academic institutions and industry partners. The company’s intellectual property portfolio, developed over the last decade, includes patents granted in more than 25 countries. To learn more, visit curelabveterinary.com.
Investigational status / safe-harbor statement
ElenaVet™ is an investigational therapy not yet approved for commercial use; safety and efficacy have not been established by U.S. regulatory authorities. This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties.
Media contact
Tim Cox | ZingPR for CureLab Veterinary | [email protected]
SOURCE CureLab Veterinary
