Recent Issues in the Development and Application of Targeted Therapies with Respect to Individual Animal Variability
Institute of Biology, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, Arciszewski St. 22b, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland
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Animals 2025, 15(3), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030444
Submission received: 5 December 2024
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Revised: 20 January 2025
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Accepted: 27 January 2025
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Published: 6 February 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Veterinary Pharmacology: Improving Treatment Modalities for Animal Pathology)
Simple Summary
This study reviews targeted therapies in veterinary medicine, focusing on how specific treatments can improve animal care by addressing the underlying causes of disease. The research highlights the role of genetics, environment, and other factors that influence the effectiveness of treatments in different species, with the main aim of exploring how individual differences—such as genetic and environmental factors—affect an animal’s response to therapies. By understanding these variations, veterinarians can formulate individualised treatment plans to ensure optimal outcomes. The study highlights the importance of comparing the responses of different species to therapies, helping to identify potential risks and benefits. This knowledge will help to refine treatment strategies and ensure the safety and efficacy of therapies for different animal populations. The results highlight the need for further research to improve our understanding of the interplay between biology and environment in determining therapeutic success. The knowledge gained from this research could contribute to the advancement of veterinary medicine, the promotion of animal health, and the development of new opportunities for the creation of more targeted therapies that benefit both animals and humans, thus improving overall healthcare.
Abstract
This literature review explores the impact of molecular, genetic, and environmental factors on the efficacy of targeted therapies in veterinary medicine. Relevant studies were identified through systematic searches of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect using keywords such as “species-specific treatment strategies”, “signalling pathways”, “epigenetic and paragenetic influences”, “targeted therapies”, “veterinary medicine”, “genetic variation”, and “free radicals and oxidative stress”. Inclusion criteria included studies focusing on species-specific therapeutic responses, genetic influences, and oxidative stress. To ensure that only the most recent and relevant evidence was included, only peer-reviewed publications from the last two decades were considered. Each study selected for analysis was critically appraised, with a particular emphasis on methodological quality, experimental design, and scientific contribution to the understanding of how environmental and biological factors influence therapeutic outcomes. A special emphasis was placed on studies that used a comparative, cross-species approach to assess variability in therapeutic responses and potential adverse effects. The review synthesises evidence on the role of epigenetic and paragenetic factors and highlights the importance of cross-species studies to understand how environmental and biological factors influence treatment outcomes. By highlighting genetic variation, oxidative stress, and individual species differences, the review argues for personalised and species-specific therapeutic approaches. The review emphasises that such an approach would improve veterinary care and inform future research aimed at optimising targeted therapies, ultimately leading to better animal health and treatment efficacy. A key contribution of the review is its emphasis on the need for more personalised treatment protocols that take into account individual genetic profiles and environmental factors; it also calls for a greater integration of cross-species studies.
