EquusCell is a biological bandage that serves as a wound product used for open lacerations. (Credit: AniCell)

On a recent tour of bioscience companies in the East Valley area of Phoenix, AZ, I visited AniCell Biotech, a company dedicated to extending the lives of animals through stem cell technology. Because there is no risk of rejection, the stem-cell based products offer veterinarians and animal owners a viable option for healing a wound that might otherwise lead to amputation.

Founded by rancher and entrepreneur Brandon Ames, the company created the EquusCell brand of regenerative products. The amnion-based products can treat tendon and ligament damage as well as treat hard­to-heal superficial and ocular wounds. The amnion bioscaffold is made up of concentrated growth factors; hyaluronic acid; collagen types I, III, IV, V and VII; laminin; lipids; proteoglycans; carbohydrates; and fibronectin. These foundational materials are essential to regrow extra cellular matrix (ECM) when tissue is damaged and often absent in conformationally compromised areas.

This ECM product line does not require invasive harvesting or culturing of bone marrow or adipose tissue stem cells to treat injuries. It uses mesenchymal stem cell components from amniotic material collected noninvasively during the birthing of healthy foals and puppies to produce all-natural, minimally manipulated regenerative products. Donor mares are brought to Ames’ ranch to give birth.

AniCell’s processing includes storing placental tissues and preparing the allograft so that it can be used in an injectable form. According to the company, recent scientific studies comparing bone marrow extracted stem cells to amniotic stem cells proved amniotic material to be more robust. The amniotic therapy enabled a horse to resume activities in half the time of the bone marrow therapy and the rate of re‐injury was five times less.

Dr. Moises Barcelo, DVM, PhD, says he has been very happy with the results being reported from the field regarding the treatments. “Veterinarians are treating superficial lacerations, suspensory lesions, tendon injuries, and ocular ulcers with our products and the reports and pictures are performing above our initial expectations,” he says. Barcelo is AniCell's bioprocess engineer and research veterinarian.

Ames, who calls the products “human tested, animal approved,” says, “We are simply recycling miracles by collecting nature’s blessing s that would normally end up on the ground. These treatments are making a difference in our veterinarians’ patients, helping to grow their practices and preserving the active life of animals.”

Sherrie Trigg, Editor and Director of Medical Content

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