First canine OA stem cell treatment launches

A European-first, ready-to-use stem cell treatment for hip and elbow canine OA has been launched by animal health company TVM.

DogStem has been unveiled as the first licensed stem cell treatment for dogs with mild to severe OA and has a long-term efficacy from three months to more than 12 months following a single injection¹.

Existing stem cell treatments require a surgical harvesting procedure under general anaesthetic and, until now, no licensed treatments have been available, while complexities around current options also limited their use in many veterinary practices.

Study results

A study has proven DogStem reduces pain and lameness, and improves mobility and quality of life¹.

In the prospective, randomised, double-blinded placebo-controlled trial of DogStem, results showed:

• 63% of dogs showed a clinically relevant improvement in force-plate gait analysis eight weeks after treatment
• 77% had an improved orthopaedic examination by week eight
• 60% of owners reported improvement in walking, 27% in playing with other dogs, and 42% reported reduced stiffness after sleeping 12 to 18 months after administration
• 65% of owners considered the treatment improved their pet’s quality of life eight weeks after treatment
• 59% reported the treatment’s effects lasted longer than six months

Strong evidence

Helen Harrison, DogStem technical vet and product manager, said: “Osteoarthritis is one of the most common diseases seen in veterinary practices and is challenging to manage. Conventional medical treatments typically address the symptoms rather than the underlying pathological processes.

“At the same time, local treatment options that slow progression of osteoarthritis have been limited, and surgical interventions aren’t always possible or may be unrewarding. We’re delighted to be able to offer vets DogStem, a stem cell product with a strong evidence base across numerous mobility and quality of life parameters.”

Reference

1. Punzón E et al (2022). Equine umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells demonstrate safety and efficacy in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 260(15): 1,947-1,955.