Press Releases

VetStem Biopharma Shares the Story of Atlas Who Was Successfully Treated with VetStem Cell Therapy by Dr. Colter Negranti

Atlas, a Quarter Horse, was successfully treated with VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy for a partially torn suspensory ligament by Dr. Colter Negranti of Paso Robles Equine.

2019-05-07 --

Standing at 16.2 hands, Atlas is on the large side for a Quarter Horse. He and his owner keep busy too, participating in a drill team and barrel racing, among other activities. When loping around a corner in late 2017, Atlas tripped and partially tore his right front suspensory ligament. He went from being a busy horse to only being able to walk. Fortunately Atlas’ owner, Kelly, sought the opinion of her veterinarian, Dr. Colter Negranti of Paso Robles Equine.

Dr. Negranti has been utilizing VetStem’s services since 2013 and recommended treatment with VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy. In December 2017, approximately one month after his injury, Dr. Negranti collected fat tissue from Atlas’ tailhead. The fat was packaged and shipped to the VetStem laboratory in San Diego, California. VetStem lab technicians processed the fat to extract Atlas’ stem and regenerative cells and create injectable stem cell doses. One dose was shipped back to Dr. Negranti for injection directly into the lesion approximately 48 hours after the fat collection. The remaining cells were banked for potential future use.

According to Kelly, Atlas underwent months of rehabilitation after his stem cell injection. Eventually, she began to work him harder and again participated in a number of activities. Though she was nervous about adding the extra work, Atlas stayed as sound as ever and, according to Kelly he, “never took a lame step!” Kelly stated, “Using stem cells was the best decision we could’ve made…It’s now been [over] a year since his injury, and we’ve started light jumping and cow work in addition to the other things we do, and he has stayed sound and happy! This just cements my belief that using stem cell [therapy] was the step that changed everything, and we can’t be more grateful that we did it.”

We recently checked in on Atlas and Kelly reported that he’s still doing well and gearing up for a big barrel race next month. Good luck Atlas!

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. In a clinical case series using VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy in horses with tendon and ligament and joint injuries, it was found that VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy helped these horses to return to full work or to the activity level that the owner desired.