HORSTEM
Pioneers in the world in the use of umbilical cord as an active ingredient.
HorStem is the only EU-authorized medicine based on equine umbilical cord pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells that is ready to use (fresh) on the global market.
There are various advanced therapy products available on the European market. When choosing an advanced therapy product, several factors must be taken into account:
Only a product authorized by the European Union as a veterinary medicinal product can guarantee its quality, safety, and efficacy. From a quality perspective, only authorized medicinal products guarantee production under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), quality controls in accordance with European regulations and the pharmacopoeia, stability studies, control of starting materials, etc.
Regarding safety and efficacy, only authorized medicinal products have undergone an extensive evaluation process, conducted clinical trials under international regulations, and have a pharmacovigilance system that guarantees the safety and efficacy of the products throughout Europe. Currently, the use of unauthorized cell products as medicinal products poses a high risk to the health and safety of animals, as well as a risk to the prescribing veterinarian.
It is scientifically recognized that umbilical cord stem cells are ideal for regenerative medicine treatments due to their extraordinary pluripotency, immunomodulatory properties, and cell proliferation (*). Furthermore, the stage of differentiation is important when choosing a cell product.
Pluripotent (undifferentiated) mesenchymal stem cells offer a wide range of possibilities by having a great capacity for tissue adaptation and being able to be applied in pathologies of multidisciplinary origin.
Finally, thanks to the abundance of umbilical cord cells and their large size, the cells used in HorStem have barely been expanded in vitro, which gives the product greater quality and effectiveness at a lower production cost. This allows HorStem to have a more affordable price than other alternatives.
Current cell products can be sold both fresh and frozen. For frozen products, the prescribing veterinarian must perform a thawing process under field conditions. This process, although seemingly simple, is critical to the product's efficacy, as thawing can cause significant cell death and therefore negatively impact the product's effectiveness (*).
On the other hand, fresh products like HorStem do not require handling by the veterinarian and can be stored in the prescribing veterinarian's refrigerator without the need for ultra-freezing equipment.
HorStem is a therapeutic alternative to conventional treatments without being doping, avoiding medium/long-term side effects and with a duration of effect much longer than classic therapeutic alternatives.
Conventional treatments for equine osteoarthritis are well known and well established in daily clinical practice; however, conventional treatments have significant drawbacks that can be overcome with innovative treatments such as stem cell therapies.
Any pharmacological treatment, whether NSAIDs or Corticosteroids, is considered doping in competition horses, so its use is restricted to horses outside of competition, or waiting periods will need to be applied.
Conventional treatments for equine osteoarthritis are well known and well established in daily clinical practice; however, conventional treatments have significant drawbacks that can be overcome with innovative treatments such as stem cell therapies.
Conventional drug treatments have significant adverse effects in the medium to long term. Particularly relevant is the effect of continued corticosteroid use on articular cartilage homeostasis, generating significant negative effects such as articular cartilage degradation (*).
* L.V Schnabel et al. 2013; Kalaszcynska et al, 2015; Kern et al, 2007; Crisostomo PR, 2006; Baksh et al. 2007; Nagamura-Inoue. U 2014; Hunt C.J.2019; Harkins et al., 1993; de Grauw et al., 2015; Van Weeren & de Grauw, 2010 and Souza, 2016