Verdinexor in Dogs

Verdinexor is an oral chemotherapy drug used in dogs with lymphoma. In the United States, it is sold as Laverdia tablets. The FDA announced full approval of Laverdia in January 2026 for the treatment of dogs with lymphoma, making it the first fully approved oral treatment for this cancer in dogs. That matters because some pet parents and vets prefer an at-home tablet option instead of repeated injectable visits, while others may still choose multi-drug hospital-based protocols depending on the dog’s stage, subtype, and goals of care.

Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in dogs, but treatment plans are not one-size-fits-all. Verdinexor is usually considered when your vet or a veterinary oncologist wants an oral anticancer option that can be given at home with careful handling. It is not a medication to start without a confirmed diagnosis. It is also not a substitute for staging, follow-up exams, and bloodwork. Many dogs need supportive care alongside treatment, such as anti-nausea medication, appetite support, or prednisone, depending on the case.

Because verdinexor is a hazardous chemotherapy drug, safe handling is a major part of treatment. Tablets should be handled with chemotherapy-resistant disposable gloves, and household contact with urine, stool, vomit, and saliva needs extra caution during treatment and for 3 days after the last dose. Pregnant or nursing people, people who may become pregnant, and children should not handle the medication or contaminated waste.

The main goal of verdinexor is to slow lymphoma progression, not to guarantee a cure. Some dogs tolerate it reasonably well, while others develop appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or bloodwork changes that require dose adjustments or a different plan. Your vet can help match treatment intensity to your dog’s cancer type, quality-of-life goals, and your family’s budget and caregiving capacity.

Verdinexor works by blocking nuclear export, a process cancer cells use to move certain regulatory proteins out of the nucleus. By inhibiting exportin 1, also called XPO1, the drug helps keep tumor-suppressing proteins in the nucleus where they can continue to regulate cell growth and survival. In practical terms, this can slow the growth and spread of lymphoma cells in some dogs.

This mechanism is different from many traditional injectable chemotherapy drugs. That does not mean it replaces every other option. Instead, it gives your vet another way to approach canine lymphoma. Some dogs may receive verdinexor as a primary oral treatment, while others may be managed with different chemotherapy protocols, prednisone-based palliative care, or referral to oncology for more advanced planning.

The package insert also notes that food changes how much drug the body absorbs. In fed dogs, verdinexor exposure was several times higher than in fasted dogs, which is why the tablets are given immediately after feeding. That instruction is important. Giving the medication on an empty stomach could change absorption and make treatment less predictable.

After a dose, peak blood levels are reached fairly quickly, but visible cancer response takes longer and varies by dog. Your vet will usually judge response by lymph node size, symptoms, appetite, energy, body weight, and repeat lab work rather than by how your dog seems in the first few hours after a tablet.

The most common side effects reported with verdinexor are gastrointestinal and energy-related. Dogs may develop decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, or lethargy. In the field study summarized in the package insert, all treated dogs had at least one adverse reaction, although many were mild to moderate. Even so, some dogs had severe or life-threatening reactions, which is why close follow-up matters.

The prescribing information also lists other possible problems, including increased thirst or urination, blood in the urine, protein in the urine, elevated liver values, cough or trouble breathing, fever, weakness, swelling, and blood count abnormalities such as thrombocytopenia, anemia, lymphopenia, leukopenia, or neutropenia. Bone marrow suppression is especially important because it can raise the risk of infection, bruising, or bleeding.

See your vet immediately if your dog has repeated vomiting, severe diarrhea, refuses food for more than a day, seems weak or dehydrated, develops pale gums, bruising, bleeding, labored breathing, facial swelling, tremors, seizures, or marked behavior changes. Those signs can point to a serious drug reaction, dehydration, or bloodwork changes that need prompt care.

Many dogs on chemotherapy also need supportive treatment. Depending on the situation, your vet may recommend anti-nausea medication, appetite support, fluids, prednisone, or a dose reduction or treatment break. The package insert specifically notes that low-dose corticosteroids were associated with less anorexia and fewer gastrointestinal adverse effects in the study population, but whether that fits your dog depends on the full treatment plan.

Verdinexor dosing is weight-based and must follow the product label and your vet’s instructions. The labeled starting dose is 1.25 mg/kg by mouth twice weekly, with at least 72 hours between doses. If tolerated after 2 weeks, the dose may be increased to 1.5 mg/kg twice weekly. Dose reductions of 0.25 mg/kg, down to a minimum of 1 mg/kg twice weekly, or treatment interruptions may be used if side effects develop.

The tablets come in 2.5 mg, 10 mg, and 50 mg strengths. They should be given immediately after feeding, and the tablet should not be split or crushed. Your dog needs to swallow the full tablet. Dogs under 9 kg cannot be accurately dosed with the labeled tablet sizes, so this medication is not appropriate for every patient.

Because this is an oral chemotherapy drug, administration safety matters as much as the dose itself. Wear chemotherapy-resistant disposable gloves when handling the tablets. Store the medication securely away from children, food, and other pets. If a tablet is broken, wet, or crushed, or if your dog vomits after dosing, cleanup should also be done with gloves and careful disposal according to your vet’s instructions.

Monitoring is part of dosing. Your vet may recommend repeat exams, complete blood counts, chemistry panels, urinalysis, and lymph node checks to see whether the current dose is both effective and tolerable. If your dog misses a dose, contact your vet for guidance. In many cases, the next step depends on how much time has passed and how your dog has been doing overall.

Verdinexor should only be combined with other medications under veterinary supervision. The package insert says the drug is thought to be primarily inactivated through glutathione conjugation, so other drugs that also rely heavily on that pathway should be minimized when possible. Acetaminophen is the example specifically named in the label.

VCA also lists several medications that should be used with caution alongside verdinexor, including acetaminophen, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, mitoxantrone, and spinosad. That does not mean these combinations are always forbidden. It means your vet needs to weigh the reason for each medication, the timing, and the risk of overlapping toxicity.

In real-world lymphoma care, dogs may also receive prednisone, anti-nausea drugs, acid reducers, antibiotics, pain medication, or gastrointestinal support. The field study behind approval included dogs receiving corticosteroids, proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, antibiotics, anti-emetics, gastrointestinal motility modifiers, and opioids. Even so, every added medication increases the need for monitoring.

Tell your vet about everything your dog takes, including supplements, probiotics, herbal products, flea and tick preventives, and over-the-counter human medications. Do not add or stop anything on your own during chemotherapy. Small changes can matter when a dog is on an anticancer drug.