Arti-Cell Forte gets European approval

The EMA and EC have approved Arti-Cell® Forte as a veterinary medicine for the treatment of equine lameness. Arti-Cell® Forte was specifically designed for horses to provide a convenient and long-term solution for recurrent lameness, utilising specifically primed, chondrogenic induced stem cells. It comes in an ultra-low frozen ready-to-use presentation, and will be available from May and June 2019 onwards across Europe. Boehringer Ingelheim and Global Stem cell Technology have the same ambition to bring new treatments and solutions to improve animal health. To this end, they formed a partnership last year.
Jan Spaas, CEO of Global Stem cell Technology, said: “A quarter of the entire equine population1 develops osteoarthritis at some point in their life. Priming the cells towards cartilage aids them to deliver the right activities in the affected joint. We are absolutely delighted with our first marketing authorisation from the European Commission and the first stem cell-based product in animal health. We are sure that with our partner Boehringer Ingelheim this product will become a game changer in equine health.”
Head of the Global Strategic Business Unit Equine at Boehringer Ingelheim, Dr. Erich Schoett, said: “We are proud to continue to set new standards of care for horses to optimise their health and well-being in partnership with veterinarians. Early disease detection and early treatment are key to ensure that horses are healthy and live longer, happier lives. Arti-Cell® Forte as the first-ever approved stem cell-based product offers to veterinarians and horse owners a ready-to-use solution to help raising the health and quality of life for horses with mild to moderate recurrent lameness.”