OMBISTEM-Vet stem cell treatment from Vetbiobank

Whether it be an Olympic track gold medallist or a Derby winner, all athletes, will inevitably suffer injuries to ligaments, joints and tendons. This goes with the territory. Every trainer, be it human or equine, hopes to restore his charge quickly to full competitive glory both legally and economically.

Regenerative medicine has been in force in human clinics and the vet’s practice for over a decade using products such as platelet rich plasma (PRP) or stem cells. However, over the last few years the use and type of stem cells has changed dramatically.

Historically, stem cells were obtained from the fat or bone marrow of the horse to be treated and then injected as a crude product into the injured site immediately or after a 2-3 week delay needed to produce sufficient cells. Detrimentally, cell potential decreased with the time lag during production and treatment was done usually when fibrosis was already manifest.

Vetbiobank’s treatment options are based on having a bank of ready-to-use neonatal stem cells obtained from the umbilical cord that can be administered well before fibrotic onset.

Vetbiobank’s, OMBISTEM-Vet system offers advantages over traditional stem cells products. The cells are fitter and more standardised and less subject to the vagaries of adult cells whose therapeutic potential decreases with age. Their gestational origin means those cells are less immunogenic, thus allowing treatment of both related and unrelated horses. 

Stem cells implanted in a clinically manifest lesion will also migrate to other injured sites which means they preserve health by repairing other undetected lesions. (European trainer magazine June 2014).

This development has attracted widespread interest within the racing community. Furthermore, cord collection can be performed easily in any hygienic stable. Therefore, a stud farm can build with Vetbiobank, a cell bank to treat a lifetime of common horse injuries. 

For a racing stable, without its own bank, it is still possible to access cord stem cells from Vetbiobank’s OMBISTEM-Vet product to treat injuries.

Vetbiobank’s expertise in neonatal stem cell banking and research enables them to offer a BESPOKE pan European cell therapy service to vets, trainers, breeders and horse owners.

Visit www.vetbiobank.com for more information.