This week, we are debuting our latest product, PrecisePRP™, at the Fetch DVM360 veterinary conference in Kansas City, MO. This is our first conference since we launched the product, and we are very excited to get in front of veterinarians and technicians to explain what a game-changer PrecisePRP™ is for the industry!

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is defined as concentrated platelets in plasma. It is a therapeutic regenerative medicine modality that is commonly used to treat joint disease, such as osteoarthritis, as well as soft tissue injuries (tendon, ligament), and wounds. Unfortunately, there are several variables that can affect the concentration of platelets used for treatment, which can then affect the treatment outcome.  

How is PRP Produced?

Platelet-rich plasma is most frequently produced in the veterinary clinic using a pet’s own blood. The blood is drawn from the patient then filtered or centrifuged using a mechanical PRP kit. There are several mechanical PRP kits on the market currently, each of which requires a unique processing method. Once the blood is run through the kit, the end result is PRP, which is then injected directly into the problem area (i.e., joint, tendon lesion, wound, etc.).

Disadvantages of Mechanical PRP Kits

There are several disadvantages that come with producing PRP using a mechanical kit. Perhaps the most significant of these is the variability of the final PRP used to treat the patient. Numerous factors can affect the final platelet concentration such as the current health of the patient, platelet count of the patient, operator handling of the sample, and the effectiveness of the kit used to produce the PRP. Ultimately, if the PRP doesn’t contain what is considered a therapeutic dose of concentrated platelets, the patient likely won’t experience much relief.

This variability was made apparent when, in researching PRP kits, we performed a comparison of four PRP kits for the production of equine PRP. Each kit demonstrated a lack of uniformity relating to the final platelet count and platelet concentration. Moreover, each kit failed to meet their respective platelet concentration claim.

Consistency with PrecisePRP™

We didn’t feel comfortable selling PRP kits that would potentially lead to poor treatment outcomes. So instead, we invented PrecisePRP™, a freeze-dried donor-derived platelet-rich plasma currently available in a dog and horse format. PrecisePRP™ Canine and PrecisePRP™ Equine do not require processing to produce PRP, instead your veterinarian will simply rehydrate and inject.

Each vial of PrecisePRP™ undergoes rigorous quality testing to meet precise product release specifications. This results in a uniform and consistent PRP product, eliminating the variability mentioned above so that veterinarians know exactly what they’re injecting every single time. PrecisePRP™ donors are screened according to FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine guidance and in controlled safety studies of dogs and horses, there were no notable adverse events related to treatment with PrecisePRP™.

Veterinarians interested in purchasing PrecisePRP™ should contact Customer Service.

The American College of Regenerative Medicine (ACRM) has asked VetStem CEO, Dr. Bob Harman, to join their board of directors. As the CEO and co-founder of both VetStem and human subsidiary, Personalized Stem Cells, Inc. (PSC), Dr. Harman has nearly two decades of experience working with stem cells and regenerative medicine.

The first of its kind, the ACRM is a multi-specialty, interdisciplinary medical organization. The ACRM was formed to promote the science and ethical use of regenerative medicine with a strong emphasis on global interdisciplinary collaboration. Board members include medical doctors and surgeons, a dentist, a registered nurse and our very own veterinarian, Dr. Harman.

The ACRM’s mission statement encompasses everything from physician and patient education to safety and scientific advancement. While regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy is not new, there is still much to learn about regenerative cell therapies. The ACRM is fully committed to patient safety and a high standard of care. Like VetStem and PSC, the ACRM advocates for patient safety by following FDA guidelines and maintaining compliance.

The interdisciplinary focus of the ACRM will allow for the amalgamation of knowledge and expertise from doctors across multiple fields. Dr. Harman brings nearly two decades of experience with regenerative medicine in the veterinary field to share. With the launch of PSC in 2018, Dr. Harman can also provide insight into human regenerative medicine and FDA approved stem cell clinical trials. We hope this “One Medicine” approach will ultimately lead to understanding regenerative cell therapies more fully and open the door for additional FDA approved regenerative treatment options.

Last week the largest gathering in the world on healthcare convened in San Francisco. The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) held its annual “State of the Industry” talk that reviewed 2017 and previewed 2018. It was, without doubt, the most exciting such update since ARM began this briefing.

The briefing on 2017 showed not one, but three cell therapy approvals! Although these cell therapies are directed at cancer therapy, they are cell therapy and showed that the FDA is willing to fast-track really legitimate new cell products. Perhaps more exciting to us in the adult stem cell area is the recommendation by a European Medicines committee to approve the first adipose-derived stem cell therapy for human Crohn’s Disease! This is the same type of cell therapy product that VetStem is testing for approval in veterinary medicine. This would be a first in Europe for people!

The briefing also previewed 2018 with the prospect for more approvals and they stated they expect 40 new cell products in the next five years.

VetStem is proud to be in the forefront in bringing cell therapy into the hands of the practicing veterinarian and we are grateful to the many owners who have trusted VetStem to provide Regenerative Cell Therapy for arthritis and tendon and ligament injuries for their beloved animals.

You can watch the Cell & Gene Therapies State of the Industry Briefing here.

I am back!  Sorry for the absence.  I needed a break from blogging to be able to finish a couple of book chapters on stem cell therapy and to help out our human stem cell therapy friends with our great data from dog, cat, and horse stem cell cases.  But now I am back and ready to start talking with you all again about stem cells for pets, and how we can give them the best quality of life.

I have a new furry buddy since last we talked.  His name is Ben; a Type A red Border Collie.  Ben goes nearly everywhere with me, including to talks I give at dog clubs and stables, and he loves to hang out all day at the office.

I gave an almost two hour educational lecture to the Cavalier King Charles pet owners group, Cavelier Circle San Diego, recently and it was clear from all the many questions asked that there is a real interest in stem cell therapy and how it can be used to treat various conditions in our companion animals.  So I will re-start this blog with discussion about the basics of stem cells.

Ben will be along as your guide and he will try to keep me focused on the topic!  He proofreads for me.

Since the mainstream media focuses on sensationalism in reporting, I want to give you all an honest and straightforward foundation in the basics of stem cell therapy so that you can decide for your pets, and also maybe for yourself soon, what is the right type of treatment when considering regenerative medicine.

We will talk over the coming weeks about what stem cells really are, how they work, and the practical aspects of how cells are collected and used to treat arthritis and other diseases.  We will cover costs, insurance, and how to choose a veterinarian for your pet’s stem cell procedure.

Stay tuned for the first in this series titled “What are Stem Cells?”

See you then!

Dr. Harman

Yesterday a global stem cell meeting began in La Jolla with leaders from around the world, “Stem Cells on the Mesa.”  The discussions are centered on stem cell science and the development of new products.  Vet-Stem presented the stem cell story in veterinary medicine to the amazement of many in the audience.  Researchers and business leaders commented that Vet-Stem and veterinary medicine were leaders in translating stem cell science into true clinical treatments.  With over 4000 horses and 4000 dogs treated with stem cells, we are helping the industry see that stem cell therapy really works and is safe! Read the rest of this entry »