Press Releases
VetStem Biopharma Shares the Story of Anthony Who Came Back to Win Division Championship After Being Treated with Stem Cell Therapy by Dr. Ruth-Anne Richter
Veni Vici, or Anthony, a competitive Hunter-Jumper, came back to win a division championship after treatment with VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy.
2018-11-27 --
Veni Vici, or Anthony, is a competitive Hunter-Jumper owned by Lisa Companioni Smith. In 2014, Anthony suffered a meniscal tear in his right knee. At the time, he was fourteen years old and Lisa was told he would never jump again and that she’d be lucky if he would ever be well enough to be a trail horse. Devasted, Lisa sought the expert opinion of veterinarian and surgeon, Dr. Ruth-Anne Richter of Brandon Equine Medical Center in Brandon, Florida.
Dr. Richter became credentialed to perform VetStem Cell Therapy in 2007 and had treated nearly forty patients by the time she treated Anthony. In January of 2014, Dr. Richter collected fat from Anthony’s tailhead in a routine procedure. The fat was aseptically packaged and shipped to the VetStem laboratory in Poway, California. VetStem lab technicians processed the fat to concentrate and extract the stem cells and created injectable doses of Anthony’s own stem and regenerative cells. After quality checks were performed, the doses were shipped to Dr. Richter who received and injected them approximately 48 hours after the initial fat collection. Anthony received two injections into the affected knee.
Six months after the initial round of stem cell injections, Anthony received a follow-up injection into the affected knee. He continued to take time off to heal and recuperate. Between 2016 and 2017, Anthony competed and took a couple reserve championships. And in March 2018, Anthony won grand champion in the Adult Maiden Division at HITS VIII Ocala Winter Finals which, according to Lisa, was a lifetime dream of theirs.
It has been well over four years since Anthony received stem cell therapy and he remains sound. According to Lisa, “he is happy and has an incredible attitude and spirit now.” Though Lisa was told he may never jump again, stem cell therapy helped Anthony get back to champion standards. Stem cells are regenerative cells that can differentiate into many tissue types, reduce pain and inflammation, help to restore range of motion, and stimulate regeneration of tendon, ligament and joint tissues.
About Ruth-Anne Richter, BSc, DVM, MS
Dr. Richter received her veterinary degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College on Prince Edward Island, Canada in 1995 after finishing a Bachelor of Science degree. Dr. Richter did an equine internship at Mississippi State University and, following a year in private practice, began a surgical residency at the University of Illinois. She completed her surgical residency and concurrent Master of Science degree in 2000. Dr. Richter’s specialties include equine sports medicine, diagnostic imaging – particularly ultrasound, lameness and surgery. She also has an interest in regenerative medicine techniques and has been certified by VetStem since 2007.
