Pall Corporation PLL +0.46% , a global leader in filtration, separation and purification, today announced it has entered into an exclusive U.S. distribution agreement with leading animal health products provider MWI Veterinary Supply Co. As part of the agreement, MWI, through its SECUROS division, will market an innovative canine platelet enhancement therapy (C-PET) kit developed by Pall to treat dogs suffering from osteoarthritis as well as tendon and ligament injuries. The disposable system provides veterinarians a quick, portable and cost-effective solution for helping dogs realize long-term relief from these painful conditions.
Osteoarthritis, a major concern for owners of the more than 72 million pet dogs(1) in the United States, is a chronic condition characterized by pain and stiffness in the joints. Approximately one in five adult dogs in the U.S.(2) suffer from osteoarthritis. Common canine treatment methods can range from weight control and exercise to the administration of nutraceuticals and anti-inflammatory drugs. In an effort to treat the condition rather than just the symptoms, many veterinarians have begun offering alternatives like minimally-invasive cell therapy procedures. Typically offered in conjunction with some of the more traditional methods, cell therapy can help accelerate healing and lead to longer-term relief.
The SECUROS C-PET system relies on Pall’s unique filter-based technology to concentrate platelets and their associated growth factors — which enhance wound healing and induce tissue regeneration — from a small volume of a dog’s own blood. As easy to use in the field as in a clinic, the convenient C-PET system involves a simple process. It includes sedating the dog, drawing blood, filtering the blood, recovering the platelet concentrate, and delivering the cell therapy. In most instances, the C-PET process can be completed in 30 minutes or less.
Additionally, the SECUROS C-PET system does not require a centrifuge or power supply, a significant advantage over other platelet enrichment techniques. Methods that rely on centrifuges expose platelets to forces several thousand times the force of gravity. C-PET is the only platelet therapy method that uses filtration technology to gently capture and recover platelets. Another major benefit is that the C-PET procedure allows veterinarians to adjust the volume of blood used in the procedure to the size of the patient they are treating.
“Pall’s novel point-of-care cell harvesting and delivery method has been used to successfully treat tendinosis in horses,” says Dr. Jeffrey Schaffer, D.V.M., Director of Pall Animal Health. “In adapting this technology for dogs, we worked closely with MWI to identify veterinarians interested in evaluating the product by treating osteoarthritic dogs and using a questionnaire to assess improvement in lameness.(3) Over 100 dogs were treated and the improvement in lameness was judged to be statistically significant in animals expected to worsen with this progressive degenerative joint disease.”
These results suggest that the SECUROS C-PET kit would not only provide a long-term, optimal solution for treating osteoarthritis, but also offer veterinarians a practical and safe application of this state-of-the-art procedure. Pall also funded a clinical trial of SECUROS C-PET, the results of which are to be presented at the Veterinary Orthopedic Society (VOS) conference on March 7 in Crested Butte, Colorado.
“We are excited about teaming with Pall on SECUROS C-PET,” says Jim Cleary, MWI President and CEO. “MWI and Pall share a similar commitment to innovation and Pall has an established history in cell therapy as well as the development of practical solutions that are primed for commercial success. With the SECUROS C-PET kit, we can provide veterinarians an easy-to-use and economical single-use disposable solution for treating osteoarthritis that they in turn can offer to clients as a value-added service.”
Added Byron Selman, President, Pall Medical: “MWI is a highly respected leader in its field. With its strong sales force and dedicated technical support team, we believe we have the ideal partner for maximizing the reach of this important innovation in the veterinary community.”