As the first company in the
United States to provide an adipose-derived stem cell service to veterinarians
for their patients, VetStem holds exclusive global veterinary licenses to a
portfolio of issued patents in the field of regenerative medicine and owns a
number of patents and patent applications. We believe these patents are an
important way to strengthen our intellectual property in the rapidly developing
field of regenerative medicine.
As leaders in the field, VetStem
contributes to the development of the regenerative medicine market. As such, we
have invested heavily in patent protection of our technology and recently
engaged appropriate counsel to pursue licensing and patent enforcement. Our goal
is to provide opportunities to potentially infringing companies to license one
or more of our patents to utilize in their own business model. This creates a
win-win situation for everyone involved, including the customers who potentially
benefit from the technology.
We recently completed licensing
deals with multiple companies for use of our patented technology. These deals
mean that the other companies can continue using and profiting from our
technology while VetStem earns revenue to invest back into the company. For
instance, a recent sublicense by one of our licensees brought VetStem $1.75
million in upfront licensing revenue. Thus, these licensing deals help optimize
the value of our company and further solidify our stake in the market.
With ongoing research and
development, VetStem endeavors to stay at the forefront of the field. Since the
first VetStem recipient in 2004, VetStem has processed nearly 14,000 patient
samples, resulting in over 30,000 stem cell treatments. Without our dedicated clientele,
veterinarians, and pet owners alike, we could not do what we do!
As 2020 comes to an
end, we would like to focus our last blog of the year on the history and
successes of VetStem Biopharma.
VetStem was born in
2002 with a dream to deliver regenerative medicine services and products to
improve the lives of horses. It expanded shortly thereafter to provide
regenerative medicine to small animals. By 2007 we had launched a full dog
and cat program. In 2012 we started to respond to requests from zoos and
aquatic animal parks to provide for their wild and exotic animal needs.
In the past 18 years,
VetStem’s dedicated staff have provided veterinary regenerative medicine
services for nearly 14,000 patients. We have focused on providing high quality
cell therapy treatments and products such as the V-PET and Genesis platelet therapy
systems. In our quest to spread regenerative medicine knowledge to
veterinarians and pet owner, we have attended hundreds of conferences, produced
15 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, and have spoken at conferences and
clinics hundreds of times. Our first-of-its-kind regenerative medicine
online training course has provided formal continuing education for over 5,000
veterinarians in the U.S. and abroad.
In 2018 we decided
the time was right to launch our own human stem cell company, and Personalized Stem Cells (PSC) was
born. The mission was to use the years of VetStem animal safety and
efficacy data to add human stem cell medicine to our portfolio. We are
completing our first FDA approved study of knee arthritis this month and have
developed an entire FDA program for treating COVID-19 patients, which we have licensed
to Sorrento Therapeutics. Our plan is to move into traumatic brain injury
in 2021.
This year, we also announced the launch of our
contract manufacturing business, commonly called a CMO or CDMO, and we have
christened this division Performance
Cell Manufacturing (PCM). This was an opportunistic move to use our
beautiful FDA GMP manufacturing plant and cell manufacturing experience to make
important cell therapy products for other companies for use in clinical trials.
PSC and PCM have brought revenue to VetStem and allowed us to grow, hire, and weather the COVID-19 storm, however, the human division would not exist without the years of animal cell therapy work and dedication of our employees through some tough economic times. Our animal health services are the foundation of everything that we have built, and we try to convey the importance of our veterinary business with the images in our front lobby (see below).
I believe in One Medicine, where the learning in the veterinary world supports animals and provides crucial information for human medicine. But I am, and always will be, a veterinarian first. We sincerely thank all of our dedicated customers, veterinarians and pet owners alike, and wish everyone the happiest of holidays. May 2021 bring health and happiness to all.
VetStem Cell Therapy Patient Success Stories in our Lobby
We recently reached our 15 year anniversary as a member of Biocom, a
life science association. Biocom is an organization that supports the life sciences
on many fronts and in multiple locations. While Biocom is primarily based
in California, they also have locations in Washington D.C. and Tokyo. From their website, “Biocom harnesses
the collective power and experience of the most innovative and productive life
science clusters in the world, with powerful advocacy and transformative
programs to help companies in their quest to improve the human condition. Biocom provides the
strongest public voice for research institutions and companies that fuel the
California economy.”
As a member-driven organization,
Biocom provides life science companies with the opportunities and resources
they need to fulfill business goals. Biocom is great for networking and
connecting companies in the San Diego area. Local area members include
businesses in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, genomics, diagnostic, medical
device, connected health, agriculture, and bio-renewable energy fields. Their
website states, “With 23 years in San Diego, Biocom is well known for its
collaborative spirit and integral role in ensuring the life science ecosystem
of San Diego has the support it needs to thrive, including infrastructure, networking,
professional development, and business-friendly government regulations.”
VetStem CEO, Dr. Bob Harman, has
a long history as a Biocom member. In the early 90s, Dr. Harman ran HTI
Bio-Services, a contract research company, and regularly networked with other
local biotech CEOs and entrepreneurs. Regarding those early days as a Biocom
member, Dr. Harman stated, “These were exciting times not only because of
technical innovation, but also because we were forming a community that helped
to advance medicine and create a vital segment in the local and regional
economy.”
VetStem endeavors to stay at the
forefront of the field. Founded in 2002, VetStem is the first US-based
commercial veterinary adipose stem cell company. We have processed fat tissue
from nearly 14,000 patients resulting in over 30,000 stem cell treatments. In
2018, we utilized our over 15 years of experience and data in veterinary
medicine to spin out a human stem cell company, Personalized Stem Cells, Inc. We
also just announced the launch of our contract cell manufacturing business,
which we will discuss in an upcoming blog. We are very proud to be a longtime
member of Biocom and of our contributions to the biotech community.
We recently brought in a new Safety and Technical Services
Veterinarian. We are so excited to welcome Dr. Amber Vibert to the VetStem
team! Learn more about Dr. Vibert and her veterinary experience in this week’s
blog!
Dr. Amber Vibert with Rally and Valor
Shifting Gears: Deciding to Pursue Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Vibert grew up in Connecticut and is a diehard fan of the New
England Patriots- even without Tom Brady, if you can believe that (though she
concedes that she misses him terribly). Unlike many veterinarians, Dr. Vibert
did not grow up with the intention to become a veterinarian. It was quite the
opposite.
After receiving her Bachelor’s in clinical psychology with a focus on
child development, Dr. Vibert planned to pursue a master’s degree in social
work. However, one day she literally woke up and decided to pursue veterinary
medicine after realizing that her most stimulating and rewarding job was that
of an entry-level veterinary assistant when she was a senior in high school. And
so she got a full time position as a vet assistant at a multi-doctor private practice
and went back to school part time to complete the higher level science courses
she needed to gain acceptance to veterinary school.
From Vet School in Indiana to Sunny San Diego
She completed the necessary schooling in three years and was accepted to
Purdue University upon her first application. After her first year of vet
school, she visited San Diego and fell in love with the palm trees, the beaches,
and of course, the weather. Spending four years in the Midwest while at Purdue
made Dr. Vibert miss the ocean. Having grown up on the coast of CT, the ocean
was a huge part of her childhood. And while she misses the seasons and charm of
New England, she certainly does not miss the long and cold winters. And so,
upon graduation from vet school in 2006, Dr. Vibert planted her roots in sunny
San Diego!
Gaining Experience in Emergency Medicine and General Practice
When she arrived in San Diego, Dr. Vibert completed a rotating
internship at Veterinary Specialty Hospital and went on to spend several years
as an emergency veterinarian. She enjoyed the fast pace and the quick decision
making of emergency medicine. She stated, “For me, a successful outcome felt
like winning the World Series or the Super Bowl!” She also honed her surgical
skills and developed a passion for all types of soft tissue surgeries.
In 2011, she shifted gears into
general practice. She enjoyed the relationships she built with her clients and
their pets. In some cases, she felt like a part of their family. Dr. Vibert
stated, “People revealed to me very personal things about their lives, which
can sometimes take its toll (i.e. compassion fatigue), but more often just
helped me understand them and care for them on a personal level. I became that
much more invested in the well-being of their beloved pet.” Prior to joining
VetStem, Dr. Vibert spent the last year and a half as Medical Director of a
multi-doctor, small animal practice.
Joining the VetStem Team
Now, as our Safety and Technical Services veterinarian, Dr.
Vibert has entered a whole new realm of veterinary medicine. Regarding joining
the VetStem team, Dr. Vibert stated, “I am so excited to be learning so many
new things at VetStem! Some of these things are obvious- learning about stem
cells and their applications, learning about our laboratory processes and
practices- but I’m also learning things like new computer software systems, how
to write scientific papers, and organizing collaborative efforts on clinical
development projects. I’m using my brain in ways that I never really had time
to do in clinical practice!”
Dr. Vibert serves as our veterinary liaison to further
develop relationships with existing and new veterinary clients. With an emphasis
on safety, Dr. Vibert consults with veterinarians on stem cell and platelet
therapy cases to provide insight and treatment recommendations. She stated, “I
am excited for the opportunity to contribute to the betterment of animal and
human lives by way of regenerative medicine. I am also looking forward to forging
new professional relationships with the veterinarians whom VetStem serves.”
Outside of Veterinary Medicine
In her spare time, Dr. Vibert enjoys endurance running,
horseback riding, cooking, traveling, and spending quality time with her
husband, Tim. She has her own menagerie of pets that keep her laughing every
day. These include one dog (Rally), two cats (George and Stevie Nicks,
“Stevie”), one horse (Valor), and two rats (Igor, “Iggy” and “Luka”).
She has had several rats over the last few years (their
average life span is ~2.5-3 years) and believes rats are hands down the best
small mammal pets to have. She stated, “Rats are smart, social, affectionate,
and very trainable. People who don’t know much about domestic rats are
sometimes scared or feel adverse to them, but once you get past the stigma that
they are dirty (which is very untrue- they are incredibly clean little animals)
and get past the hairless tail, you will discover what awesome pets they make!”
So there you have it. Please send a warm welcome to Dr.
Vibert and go get yourself a pet rat!
If you have some time, click the picture below to view a recent webinar
from VetStem CEO Dr. Bob Harman. Dr. Harman discusses VetStem Cell Therapy in
depth and also gives tons of information about our human stem cell studies
including an upcoming FDA approved COVID-19 clinical trial.
In this video you will learn the history of VetStem and what stem cells
do to promote healing. You will also learn about the various diseases VetStem
Cell Therapy has been used for.
If you skip ahead to
approximately 14:50, Dr. Harman shifts to discuss our human stem cell company, Personalized Stem Cells, Inc. At
approximately 19:00 Dr. Harman begins talking about PSC’s upcoming FDA approved
COVID-19 trial. He provides
information about recent stem cell studies for COVID-19 and details about the PSC
study. You don’t want to miss this!