Home Diseases and Conditions Equine Sarcoid

Equine Sarcoid

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Development Stage

Early Stage

Focused ultrasound research is in the laboratory phase and is not yet available for patients.

Clinical Trials

Focused ultrasound for this condition is being researched in clinical trials.

International Approval

Focused ultrasound is approved to treat this condition outside the US. Patients can seek commercial treatment at participating international sites.

FDA Approved

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved focus ultrasound for this condition. Patients can seek commercial treatment at participating sites.

Early Stage

Clinical Trials

International

FDA Approved

Focused ultrasound for this condition is being researched in clinical trials.

Focused Ultrasound Therapy 

Focused ultrasound is a rapidly evolving, therapeutic technology that could transform the quality of life and decrease the cost of care for horses that have developed equine sarcoid. These predominantly benign, lesions can take a variety of forms, ranging from scaling and crusting with variable alopecia to (less frequently) lumps or tumor like masses. They can be disabling for horses, as they can frequently involve the eyes, ears and girth regions. Bovine papillomavirus is important in its etiology. This novel technology focuses beams of ultrasound energy precisely and accurately on targets in the body without damaging surrounding normal tissue. 

How it Works 

Focused ultrasound will use the mechanical effect of histotripsy to disrupt the physical structure of the targeted equine sarcoid. This effort will be done in several different doses, and there will be immunotherapeutic biomarkers captured that will be contrasted with non-histotripsy level.  

The primary options for treatment of equine sarcoid includes medication and possibly chemotherapy, but the recurrent nature of these lesions makes this an unmet need for horse owners.  

For certain patients, focused ultrasound could provide a more effective alternative to the limited conventional options that currently exist. While significant work has been accomplished, there is still much to be done before this technology will be widely available. 

Advantages 

  • Focused ultrasound is non-invasive, so it does not carry added concerns like surgical wound healing or infection.  
  • Focused ultrasound can reach the desired target without damaging surrounding tissue. 
  • It can be repeated, if necessary. 

Clinical Trials 

This therapy is currently only seen in horses. There is an active clinical trial operating at Virginia Tech.   

Regulatory Approval and Reimbursement  

Focused ultrasound treatment for equine sarcoid is not yet approved by regulatory bodies or covered by medical (horse) insurance companies. 

Notable Papers 

Haspeslagh M, Vlaminck LE, Martens AM. Treatment of sarcoids in equids: 230 cases (2008-2013). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2016 Aug 1;249(3):311-8. doi: 10.2460/javma.249.3.311. PMID: 27439349  

Staiger EA, Tseng CT, Miller D, Cassano JM, Nasir L, Garrick D, Brooks SA, Antczak DF. Host genetic influence on papillomavirus-induced tumors in the horse. Int J Cancer. 2016 Aug 15;139(4):784-92. doi: 10.1002/ijc.30120. Epub 2016 May 6. PMID: 27037728 

Click here for additional references from PubMed.