FDA Grants Full Approval to Laverdia, First Oral At-Home Treatment for Canine Lymphoma
Key Insights
The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has granted full approval to Laverdia (search) (verdinexor tablets), the first oral, at-home treatment for canine lymphoma (search) developed by Anivive Lifesciences (search).
Laverdia (search) is an XPO1 (search) inhibitor that selectively blocks nuclear export proteins involved in cancer cell survival, demonstrating promising results with a well-tolerated safety profile in clinical evaluations.
The approval validates Anivive's AI-enabled drug development model, with the AniviveSELECT platform identifying verdinexor through drug repurposing and AniviveTRIAL contributing approximately 40% of clinical trial enrollment.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine has granted full approval to Laverdia (search) (verdinexor tablets), making it the first FDA-approved oral, at-home treatment for lymphoma in dogs. The announcement, made by Anivive Lifesciences (search) on June 26, 2026, marks a significant milestone in veterinary oncology, offering veterinarians and pet owners a safe, effective, and more accessible option for managing one of the most common cancers in dogs.
Laverdia (search) had previously received conditional approval from the FDA in 2021 under the designation Laverdia-CA1, allowing Anivive to market the drug while completing the Technical Efficacy Section requirements for full approval. The conversion to full approval now completes that regulatory pathway.
Mechanism of Action and Clinical Profile
Laverdia (search) functions as an XPO1 (search) inhibitor, selectively inhibiting nuclear export proteins that play a critical role in cancer cell survival. This mechanism was pioneered in veterinary oncology by Anivive's scientific partners. In clinical evaluations conducted as part of the approval process, the treatment demonstrated promising results alongside a well-tolerated safety profile.
"Laverdia (search) provides veterinarians with greater flexibility in designing treatment protocols tailored to each dog's condition and lifestyle," said Dr. David Bruyette, Chief Medical Officer at Anivive. "We believe this therapy will be an important tool in improving quality of life for dogs living with lymphoma."
AI-Enabled Development Model Validated
The approval of Laverdia (search) represents more than a single product milestone — it validates Anivive's integrated artificial intelligence and drug development platform. The company's AniviveSELECT platform, an AI drug repurposing system, identified and prioritized verdinexor for canine lymphoma (search) by connecting evidence from human medicine with veterinary disease biology. Subsequently, AniviveTRIAL employed intelligent patient matching, digital recruitment, and centralized enrollment tools to support the nationwide pivotal study, contributing approximately 40% of enrollment and accelerating the path to approval.
"This approval validates more than a drug. It validates the development model we built Anivive around," said Dylan Balsz, Founder and CEO of Anivive Lifesciences (search). "We used AniviveSELECT to identify a promising human medicine for canine lymphoma (search), and AniviveTRIAL to find and enroll dogs across the country. Laverdia (search) is the first product to complete that full cycle — from AI-enabled repurposing through clinical development and FDA approval. After eight years of work, it also gives veterinarians and families a more affordable way to give dogs with lymphoma more time."
Commercialization and Market Access
Anivive partnered with Dechra Veterinary Products (search) in 2022, out-licensing the rights to Laverdia (search)-CA1 in the United States. With the full FDA approval now secured, Laverdia is available through Dechra to veterinarians nationwide. Beginning later this summer, Dechra will launch a comprehensive support program for healthcare teams and pet owners, including educational resources, dosing guidance, and in-clinic support to ensure broad access to the therapy.
Global Expansion and Pipeline Development
Building on the momentum of the U.S. approval, Anivive is actively pursuing regulatory approvals for Laverdia (search) in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Beyond canine lymphoma (search), the company is investigating verdinexor for other canine and feline cancers and as a potential antiviral in veterinary medicine. Anivive also continues to expand distribution of its SearchLight DNA next-generation genomic sequencing test for pet cancers.
The broader veterinary oncology sector reached a valuation of USD $1.77 billion in 2025, with growth projected at a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.14% between 2025 and 2034, and long-term projections estimating a USD $4.86 billion market valuation by 2034.