2026-04-23 ロイヤルメルボルン工科大学（RMIT）
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2026/apr/boas-treatment
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023326000924
破傷風毒素とデコイ、新規標的型神経筋刺激剤Snoretox-1を併用した、BOASを患う6頭の英国ブルドッグを対象としたパイロット研究における臨床観察 Clinical observations of tetanus toxin plus decoy, Snoretox-1, a novel targeted neuromuscular stimulant, in a pilot study of 6 British bulldogs with BOAS
Anthony Sasse, Luke J. Norbury, Thomas McLean, Maurice Newport, Arthur House, David W. Swift, Danny Aliano, Peter M. Smooker, Russell Conduit
The Veterinary Journal Available online: 6 March 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2026.106636
Highlights
- A novel, non-surgical treatment (Snoretox-1) for BOAS was evaluated in British Bulldogs.
- Snoretox-1 consists of tetanus toxin combined with an immunological decoy to permit repeated use despite prior exposure.
- After injection into the geniohyoid muscle, there was an improvement in RFG socres, with effects lasting 20-52 weeks.
- The therapeutic demonstrated improvement comparable to surgery but without invasive airway procedures.
- Findings support Snoretox-1 as the first localised muscle-toning drug, with potential broader neuromuscular uses.
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the novel therapeutic Snoretox-1 for the treatment of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) in British bulldogs.
Methods
A therapeutic (Snoretox-1) was developed consisting of a muscle-toning protein (tetanus toxin) and an antibody trap (decoy), previously demonstrated via in vivo studies to functionally increase local muscle tone in the presence of neutralising antibodies. British bulldogs with grade 2 or 3 BOAS were treated, under sedation, by injection of the therapeutic bilaterally into the centre of the rostral geniohyoid. Bulldogs were graded by an accredited unblinded observer utilising the Respiratory Functional Grading (RFG) scale, after a three-minute trot test, at multi-week intervals, until any improvement returned to baseline values.
Results
Six British bulldogs were enrolled in this study (two male, four female) aged between 4 and 8 years old. All dogs improved by at least one BOAS grade on the RFG scale. Non-parametric statistical analysis (Friedman χ² with Durbin-Conover post-hoc tests) showed that BOAS severity grades recorded after Snoretox-1 treatment at time points up to 12 weeks were significantly lower than after placebo (p < 0.001), with improvements lasting from 20 to 53 weeks post-treatment. Feeding difficulty for up to 5 ½ weeks may occur with incorrect placement outside the rostral geniohyoid.
Conclusions
Injection of the Snoretox-1 muscle-toning therapeutic decreased the severity of BOAS in British bulldogs by one grade or more for a period of between 20 weeks and 53 weeks.
Clinical Relevance
Snoretox-1 could offer a less invasive, well-tolerated and effective treatment for BOAS.
