Frequently Asked Questions

Kv9 is a treatment designed to help dogs with solid cancers by activating their own immune system to fight the disease. It is injected directly into the tumour, where it places a harmless “marker” on the cancer cells. This marker helps the immune system recognise the tumour, which is something it often struggles to do on its own. Once the immune system can see these marked cancer cells, it begins to attack them. In the process it can also learns how to attack them elsewhere in the body. Because the process works like a personalised vaccine, it should also help prevent the same type of cancer from returning.

We are currently accepting dogs and cats into the clinical study. Horses can enrol if they are based in the Hawkes Bay region.

We are currently enrolling dogs with soft tissue sarcomas, mast cell tumours, mammary gland tumours, melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, anal sac tumours, and other accessible solid tumours.

It depends. There needs to be at least 1cm x 1cm of tumour to receive the treatment. So if there is tissue remaining or if it has regrown after surgery they are still considered eligible for the trial.

No, Kv9 is an immunotherapy. A significant benefit of immunotherapy is that it commonly is better tolerated and can provide a long lasting immune protection.

If enrolled in the study, your pet will receive several small injections (less than 0.2mL at each site) of a Kv9 solution directly into their tumour mass every 14 days for up to three occasions. In some instances, a fourth dose may be considered after 3 months. In addition, there will be several follow-ups over the next two years to monitor their disease progression (there will be no charge for these follow-up appointments).

Kv9 is an experimental product and its safety cannot be guaranteed. In the current clinical study it has been well tolerated by the majority of participants. Most side effects are mild and temporary, such as tiredness, reduced appetite, or swelling at the tumour site.

Kv9 is an experimental treatment and cannot be guaranteed to cure cancer. The goal is to slow or stop tumour growth while maintaining good quality of life.

No, the Kv9 treatment is provided at no cost and necessary veterinary visits during the clinical study are covered by KVS. To be eligible for the clinical study your pet must have their tumour diagnosed by your primary care veterinarian, this is at your own cost. KVS will provide support if there are changes in your pet suspected to be caused by participating in the trial, this is often including financial support. Any changes that are not suspected to be related to the trial or have been previously agreed upon to be excluded such as pre-exisiting conditions will be the owners responsibility to seek veterinary advice and manage.

Yes, participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw your pet from the trial at any time without penalty.

Treatment appointments may take up to 30 minutes followed by a 20 minute waiting time. Monitoring appointments may take up to 15 minutes.

The trial participation last just over 2 years. This includes the treatment visits in the first month, and 9 follow up visits over the following 2 years.

KVS has approval from the Ministry of Primary Industries and an external animal ethics committee to run this study.