Aratana confirms hold on USDA-approved dog lymphoma drug

Aratana Therapeutics ($PETX), which is developing drugs for companion animals, disclosed Feb. 10 that it advanced several products that are in pivotal trials or postapproval marketing studies, but that its newly approved lymphoma drug has hit a roadblock. The company intends to submit late-stage trial results for its osteoarthritis treatment AT-001 to the FDA this year for anticipated approval in 2016, it said. Aratana initiated pivotal trials for AT-003 to treat postoperative pain in dogs and expects FDA approval in 2016. And it successfully completed enrollment of a pivotal trial for AT-005, which is conditionally approved by the USDA to treat canine T-cell lymphoma. As for its fully USDA-approved AT-004 for canine B-cell lymphoma, licensing partner Eli Lilly ($LLY) has put a hold on production, citing potential quality issues. Aratana is investigating the issue but has not yet provided further details. Release