b'HELPING HORSES SELF-HEALof weeks of developing a tendinopathy,SCT for equine metabolic syndrome,Looking further into the future, Fortier then only one treatment might be need- which is characterized by obesity, insu- suggests the next type of regenerative ed, says Fortier. Regenerative therapieslin dysregulation, and laminitis. product for horses will be a s ecretome. and rehabilitation need to be applied inThe rationale behind using stem cellsEssentially, a secretome would include the early phase, ideally in the zero- toin these settings is to promote damageall the bioactive factors that stem cells three-week window after injury, beforerepair, renew/reverse aging of certainsecrete to elicit the desired clinical ef-scar tissue starts to form. cells, improve tissue and organ structurefect, she says. This way, we will have and function, and promote the use anda cell-free product that delivers all the Other Conditionsexcretion of metabolites. With immune- benefits that SCT has to offer but will be Because of regenerative techniquesmediate diseases, for instance, stem cellsa consistent product. By FDA regulations, proven and perceived effects in horsescould potentially reduce immune cellsecretome will be a drug and will need to with musculoskeletal injuries, veterinar- activation (e.g., with uveitis) and in othersclear all the associated regulatory path-ians and researchers are exploring theirmodulate inflammation. ways to become available for use.use in other settings, as well. These uses,Fortier cautions that there are no however, remain quite experimental butWhats Next? secretome products on the market right might have a great deal to offer, especiallyThe field of regenerative medicine,now, but plenty of companies are suggest-for conditions that have, to date, re- although still in its infancy, has explodeding that their product contains secretome. mained resistant to standard medical ap- since its introduction in the late 1960s. De- Owners and veterinarians should be very proaches. Consider some of the following: spite the widespread use of PRP, ACS, andwary of these products and, in fact, shouldSCT or ACS for modulating persistentSCT, barriers exist pertaining to their use,ask the company for their IND (investi-mating-induced endometritis (inflam- including clear-cut instructions on how togational new drug) number. This number mation of the uterine lining).prepare and administer them properly.will indicate that the company has some SCT for systemic inflammatory condi- I think with optimized preparationevidence that their product contains sec-tions such as endotoxemia, equine asth- methods we will hopefully have an ap- retome and that they have filed with the ma, inflammatory bowel disease, andproved SCT for horses in the U.S. soon,FDA to be able to investigate the efficacy 0015-20-Enso_Half-Page_Ad_v2-PRINT.pdf 1 3/24/20 9:16 PMuveitis (a type of eyeinflammation). says Watts.of their secretome drug in your horse.hCMYCMMYCYCMYKTheHorse.com|The HorseMay 202017'