Celavie Biosciences

Celavet Animal Health

Repair of Equine Connective Soft Tissue Injuries Investigated in Pilot Study Utilizing Novel Stem Cells

Regenerative medicine start-up demonstrates efficacy and safety

OXNARD, Calif., August 19, 2008—Veterinary regenerative medicine start-up Celavet Inc., a subsidiary of Celavie Biosciences LLC, conducted a successful pilot study of Celavet’s OK100 stem cells to investigate safety, efficacy, and prospective methodology for use of undifferentiated stem cells in the repair of equine connective soft tissue injuries.

“After adapting Celavie’s stem cell technology to equine-derived OK100 stem cells, Celavet sought to ascertain the capability of our stem cells as a veterinary treatment in a pilot study,” said Celavie Biosciences CEO and President Sandy Solmon. “We are now planning a follow-up study with more subjects and multiple institutions.”

Conducted at Santa Lucia Farm in Santa Ynez, California by equine specialist Van Snow, DVM, 65 equine subjects with tendon and ligament injuries were treated with OK100 stem cells by implanting the cells into the site of the injury via ultrasound-guided injection. Outcomes were assessed six months post-transplantation.

Results demonstrated no serious adverse events in the course of the pilot study, as well as encouraging efficacy data. The study outcomes demonstrated feasibility of transplanting allogeneic stem cells into the ligaments and tendons of injured horses, enabling them to regain their fullest potential as competitors, performers, workers or companions.

Both Celavie and Celavet use the latest technological breakthroughs to produce large banks of undifferentiated stem cells with uniform qualities utilizing closed system-bioreactors. The cells are grown in a specialized patented medium that allows them to maintain their sterility and genetic stability over the course of the manufacturing process.

Celavet uses the same standardized and controlled production methods to establish equine, canine, and feline stem cell lines as those used by Celavie in the manufacture of human cells. Stem cell lines from different species all similarly express basic stem cell characteristics and are capable of addressing variable pathologies in their respective species.

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