An Ambler company, which is working on finding ways to treat cancer in cats and dogs, is stepping up its efforts towards achieving that goal with a new partnership and increased investment, writes John George for Philadelphia Business Journal.

MBF Therapeutics has managed to raise over $100,000 in new capital from private investors. The company has also converted its existing debt and notes into equity in a $1.1 million deal. In addition, MBF is collaborating with the Wistar Institute, the international biomedical research organization from Philadelphia.

“We are very excited about this opportunity which involves Wistar’s checkpoint inhibitor technology that turbocharges cancer vaccines,” said MBF president and CEO Thomas Tillett.

Around 2.5 percent of the approximately 40 million dogs nationwide get cancer each year. A professor in vaccine research in the Wistar Institute Vaccine Center, Dr. Hildegund C.J. Ertl, said the companies will work jointly to advance a new canine melanoma vaccine.

“As a dog owner myself, I want to put my expertise of vaccine development into further use to create a vaccine for preventing melanoma in our beloved companion pets,” said Ertl.

Read more about the partnership at Philadelphia Business Journal by clicking here.