Just received this from *www.10thlife.org *newsletter, dare we hope???*
*
*Pilot Study Will Help Determine If New Cobra-Venom Drug Cures Feline
Leukemia*
For more than a year we’ve been waiting for the federal government to
approve a license application to use a new cobra-venom based drug in a
large placebo controlled double blind research study that will
scientifically determine if the new drug cures feline leukemia (FeLV).
The manufacturer has already received approval from the State of
Florida to proceed, but – if the drug cures the disease – sales would
be limited to Florida veterinarians and Florida cat owners. Federal
approval would allow sales anywhere.
Because of the federal delay, Dr. Julie Levy of the University
of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine suggested we conduct a
smaller 18-30 cat, four month, placebo controlled double blind “pilot
study” using the Florida license. The pilot study will follow the same
procedures and be conducted in the same manner as a larger follow-up
study using 100+ FeLV positive cats. The larger study will be
conducted if the pilot study shows good results. Good results from the
pilot study could expedite federal approval for a larger study – which
Dr. Levy would supervise. The larger 100+ cat study will prove
conclusively that the drug cures, or does not cure, FeLV.
The drug’s manufacturer will supply the drug to us for both
studies (at no charge) and will supervise the pilot study (with the
results forwarded to Dr. Levy).
No harm will come to the cats. The drug is safe and there are no
known side effects.
For the last two weeks I’ve been looking for a location to
conduct the pilot study (we can’t do it at the sanctuary). Once we
find a place, I can put a final budget together.
We will need to raise money for the pilot study and if we
proceed to the bigger study, we’ll have to raise money for that, too.
Donors to either study will receive a tax deduction. If the drug does
cure FeLV, /10th Life /will receive a royalty on each sale of the drug
because (1) we are raising the necessary research funds (the
manufacturer’s research budget is for human - not animal – trials),
and (2) we will be supplying the FeLV+ cats.
We will probably need more FeLV+ cats. In a few days I’ll know
if we need more FeLV+ cats and will ask you, then, if you have, or
know someone who has, FeLV+ cats that could participate in the pilot
study. Most FeLV+ cats are routinely put down by their owners... this
research is necessary because, if the drug cures FeLV, many lives will
be saved.
In the meantime, please continue to support us with a
donation... I spend most of my time raising operating funds and now
that I’m spending a lot of time trying to get this study underway, I
am not out there raising operating funds. Please, we need every
donation to continue providing for our 1,200+ sanctuary cats and for
these potentially life saving studies. All donations are tax deductible.
--
Belinda
happiness is being owned by cats ...
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