Cats have a better chance of living longer, healthier lives today, thanks to a scientific breakthrough by researchers at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
A vaccine for feline leukemia developed by Ohio State became commercially available in 1984.
Feline leukemia is a retrovirus that can cause cancer as well as different types of blood disorders. It impairs the immune system, and infected cats are more likely to contract other diseases. The virus is spread through bodily fluids.
Before the vaccine was released, one out of 10 cats died of feline leukemia or a related disease. The numbers were higher in households with more than one cat. It was the leading cause of death in felines.
Ohio State’s vaccine and the method of producing it were the result of 15 years of research under the direction of Dr. Richard Olsen, a professor of pathobiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Ohio State partnered with the drug company Norden Laboratories to release the vaccine. The university received millions of dollars from sales throughout the world. When the patent expired in 2001, much of this income was lost.
Development of the vaccine provided valuable information on retroviruses in humans. It was one of the factors leading to the 1989 opening of the Ohio State Center for Retrovirus Research. Currently, the center has a $9.8 million grant to investigate the role that retroviruses play in cancer in both humans and animals.
– Susan Stonick