Despite the COVID-19 lockdown, the first Virbac Oncology Summit, originally planned as an onsite seminar in France, was able to proceed thanks to its adaptation online. Proving that digitalization can also mean better dissemination, the webinar version that took place on April 24 finally allowed the attendance of a greater number of European and North American practitioners, attracting over 350 veterinary oncologists and experts. 

For this inaugural edition, the program focused on canine mast cell tumors (MCTs). This is the second most frequent cancer diagnosed in dogs and the most common skin cancer, accounting for up to 21% of all skin cancer cases¹. An expert panel presented the latest data on this rapidly evolving area of veterinary medicine, with specific sessions to detail our new option to complete the existing oral and surgical treatments of MCTs in dogs.

The audience of veterinary surgeons proved to be very engaged, asking many questions about ways to widen and optimize medical management protocols and giving positive feedback on the scientific speeches' relevance. “While dedicating this first edition of the Virbac Oncology Summit to the treatment of MCTs, we aim at addressing a health problem that impacts hundreds of thousands of dogs’ quality of life, and at giving veterinarians more options to solve it”, says Dr Christelle Navarro, Global Medical & Marketing Director Companion Animals, Veterinary exclusive. 

The whole session will be available to replay, with details and timings to be coordinated locally amidst country and specific COVID-19 requirements. With this inaugural Virbac Oncology Summit, we reaffirm our strong commitment to drive veterinary medicine forward and work together for the health and quality of life of our pets.

^{1 - Bostock DE. Neoplasms of the skin and subcutaneous tissues in dogs and cats. Br Vet.J 1986; 142: 1-19. Dobson JM, Samuel S, Milstein H, et al. Canine neoplasia in the UK: estimates of incidence rates from a population of insured dogs. J Small Anim Pract 2002;43:240–246.}