The UK has helped launch a full commercial stem cell service in Canada offering a cure for injuries to horses' tendons and ligaments.

Up till now, the only fix was self-repair through scar tissue, which often leaves horses prone to recurring problems.

Tendons regrow

Now with the unique equine stem cell technology developed by British firm, VetCell, tendons and ligaments can regrow and regain their natural strength and elasticity.

The company was helped on its way by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the joint department run by the FCO and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. UKTI has a lead role within government for developing trade overseas and inward investment in the UK.

VetCell has just opened its new service at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island which is off the eastern coast of Canada in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

It has been building up its international business over the past four years and now operates in most parts of the world including Australia, North and South America, Japan, South Africa, the Middle East and throughout Europe.

Successful

So successful is this treatment proving that VetCell, based partly in Newmarket - the home of UK racing and horse auction sales - is also testing similar treatments for cats, dogs and other domestic animals.

The company also has a home at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in London and originally grew out of research carried out at the RVC and the Institute for Orthopaedics.

Repair kit

The primary source of the stem cells has been the bone marrow of the injured horse but recent research has shown that stem cells found in umbilical cord blood are as good as those from bone marrow. Stem cells stored at birth can therefore provide a potential "repair kit" in case of future injury or disease.

But such success seemed a distant dream just three years ago, when VetCell opened for business with limited experience of selling in the international marketplace.

"Very early on we heard of a promising trading contact in Australia but we had little concept of how to progress", recalls Chief Operating Officer David Mountford.

Australian success

"But UKTI quickly helped by walking us through the process, enabling us to go to Australia, negotiate an out-licence deal which brought us a substantial sum of money, which proved enormously helpful," said David.

Since then UKTI mentoring and guidance has become an integral part of VetCell’s development, taking the business into broader overseas markets much more quickly than it could have done on its own.

Humans next?

"We have ambitions too to develop our technology still further and begin trials of stem cell treatments for tendon and ligament injuries in humans," adds David Mountford, reflecting the company’s confidence.

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