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VetCell moves into multi-billion dollar North American market | VetCell moves into multi-billion dollar North American market |
| Written by Ben Fountain | |
| Friday, 28 March 2008 | |
![]() David Mountford, MedCell's COO (left) and Greg McGarrell (CEO) flank Bartholomew Badger In addition to opening its first US office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida VetCell has also introduced a full commercial stem cell service to Canada. The company said that Florida was identified as a key location for the first US office as the state has over half a million horses, with around 70% used for competition and recreation – the third highest number in the US. The office is being run by the US Divisions Manager, Andy Petersen and is supported scientifically by Dr Jeffrey Schaffer, who is VP of VetCell Bioscience’s US Operations. Based at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, the Candian service is headed up by equine specialist Laurie A McDuffee and predominantly focuses on the use of stem cell for the repair of equine tendon and ligament injuries. McDuffee said: "Stem cell therapy is an extremely exciting new tool for vets for the treatment of lameness caused by tendon or ligament injuries. In the UK three years of clinical follow-up on VetCell's technology suggests that it doubles an injured horse’s chances of successful recovery and return to full performance. "It provides scope for a much more optimistic long term prognosis for many of Canada’s standardbreds, western competition horses and race horses that may otherwise have been written off due to lameness." The vastness of Canada and the country’s challenging weather conditions necessitated careful logistical checks prior to the service being set up. VetCell said it needed to ensure that the laboratory service provided by the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island would be viable for vets working on the western side of the country. Byron Beeler, VetCell’s Canadian Market Advisor explains: “We set up a validation series during the summer of 2007, which demonstrated successfully that VetCell can deliver a full and effective commercial service throughout Canada. The first commercial stem cell treatments have been carried out in private clinics in Ontario and Alberta, and we look forward to following these cases once the treatment has been completed.” VetCell originally introduced its stem cell service to the US in 2006. Collaboration with MILA, the US veterinary supplies company established an efficient first line of sales for the service. Training is currently carried out via a specially designed DVD and the Coriell Institute for Medical Research in New Jersey provides laboratory support. The Florida horse industry annually generates product valued at $2.2 billion and has a total annual economic impact estimated at around $7 billion. Over 240,000 Floridians are involved in the horse industry as owners, service providers, and employees. VetCell BioScience was formed out of research carried out at the Institute for Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science (IOMS) and the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) that used stem cells from the same animal for the regeneration of damaged and diseased musculoskeletal tissues. During the past four years VetCell has set up a commercial service for equine vets in 19 countries spanning five continents and has provided treatment for hundreds of horses. The company now operates in Australia, New Zealand, North and South America, Japan, South Africa, the Middle East and throughout Europe. Last summer the company announced that it had made a move into human medicine under the new name of MedCell, of which VetCell is now a subsidiary. MedCell comprises a team of experts including chairman Dr David Glover, former medical director of Cambridge Antibody Technologies. The company is applying its expertise to design trials for the treatment of human tendon and ligament injuries.
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