Synergy In Action
Regenerative Medicine Bridging The Two Horse Capitals of the World
Driven by a mutual passion for Regenerative Medicine and a commitment to elevating care standards, Ardent Equine joins forces with equine veterinarians Drs. Phillipe Benoit, Omar Maher, and Lauren Schnabel of Pegasus Orthobiologics.
Lexington, KY and Wellington, FL- [7/12/24]- Ardent Equine, a biotechnology company dedicated to improving and advancing equine healthcare has collaborated with Pegasus Orthobiologics, a new facility focused on laboratory service biologic therapies. This partnership brings together leading scientists and equine sports medicine professionals, leveraging their combined expertise to revolutionize orthobiologic treatments in veterinary medicine. With the rise of regenerative therapy in both human and animal medicine, veterinarians are seeking alternative treatment options for their patients. These laboratory services will eliminate the need for equipment as well as reduce patient-to-patient variability and time associated with orthobiologics.
Regenerative medicine is often not a one-size-fits-all approach and multiple studies have outlined the importance of optimizing and tailoring the composition of biologics. Driven by a mutual passion for Regenerative Medicine and a commitment to elevating care standards, Ardent Equine has partnered with Drs. Phillipe Benoit, Omar Maher, and Lauren Schnabel of Pegasus Orthobiologics to not only streamline the process of orthobiologic treatments, but also tailor these treatments to the specific needs of each injury to enhance the healing process and improve outcomes.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Pegasus Orthobiologics and their exceptional team of veterinarians. This partnership fuels our shared dedication to advancing regenerative medicine and improving treatment consistency across all patients.” stated Emma Partridge, the laboratory scientist at Ardent Equine.
“Pegasus’ long-term goals extend beyond Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) preparation; we are also eager to improve and standardize the processing of other orthobiologics, such as Autologous Conditioned Serum (ACS). Collaborating with Ardent Equine allows Pegasus to take significant strides toward this goal.” stated Dr. Philippe Benoit of Pegasus Orthobiologics.
About Ardent Equine
Ardent Equine now offers Elevate Conditioned Serum (ECS), a blood-based laboratory service designed for the busy veterinarian. ECS is an autologous biologic that contains concentrated amounts cytokines and growth factors such as IL-1Ra, IL-10, IL-4, and TGF-β1, which are essential for mediating inflammation and promoting tissue healing. This service delivers a high volume of final product, offering veterinarians enough serum for a comprehensive treatment strategy. With no need for specialized equipment or hands-on processing time, ECS provides a convenient and effective solution for integrating regenerative medicine into veterinary practice.
Historically, veterinarians have treated lameness in competition horses by injecting steroids into their joints and soft tissues. Repeated use of steroids, however, is detrimental to cartilage and subchondral bone healing. Eager to advance the health and well-being of our horses, the veterinarian community has begun to reconsider the use of steroids and to implement treatments that are more considerate of horses’ longevity. Namely, veterinarians have started to treat horses’ joints and soft tissues with blood-derived products called orthobiologics. The most popular of these products is platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a treatment that promotes healing and reduces inflammation. Although PRP has become popular in the showjumping and dressage communities, its efficacy varies significantly. This is because there is currently no standardization of the type, platelet-concentration, and injection method of equine PRP.
About Pegasus Orthobiologics
Pegasus Orthobiologics addresses the critical problem of inconsistent and low-efficacy PRP by processing blood samples with a method that standardizes the leukocyte and platelet concentrations and guarantees extremely low red and white blood cell counts. Our groundbreaking technology also allows us to tailor the platelet concentration to the specific joint being treated. Consequently, Pegasus delivers high-efficacy PRP, transforming what can be a hit-or-miss therapy into a consistently effective and standardized treatment. Pegasus’ long-term goals extend beyond PRP preparation; we are also eager to improve and standardize the processing of other orthobiologics, such as ACS. Collaborating with Ardent Equine allows Pegasus to take significant strides toward this goal. Grounded in a mutual passion for equine welfare and a commitment to elevating care standards, our partnership allows us to provide the highest-quality, safest orthobiologics available today.
Meet Pegasus Orthobiologic's Team
Dr. Lauren Schnabel is an Associate Professor of Equine Orthopedic Surgery in the Department of Clinical Sciences at North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine. She earned her DMV, Large Animal Surgery Residency, and PhD at Cornell University, and is board-certified in both the American College of Veterinary Surgery and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Lauren has completed extensive research on stem cell immunology, the use of biologic therapies to treat musculoskeletal injuries and diseases and advancing equine rehabilitation protocols.
Dr. Philippe Benoit is an esteemed veterinarian on the showjumping circuit. He is board-certified in the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Philippe founded Equine Clinic des Breviaires, a successful clinic in France, and has been a leader in the equestrian sport community’s movement away from steroids and toward PRP. Previously, Philippe was the Team Veterinarian for the French Equestrian Federation’s jumping team and a Veterinary Committee member for the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).
Dr. Omar Maher is a highly respected veterinarian in the equestrian community. He is board-certified in both the American College of Veterinary Surgery and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Omar founded Atlantic Equine Services and was a surgeon at the New England Equine Medical and Surgical Center. He has also been a veterinarian at both Jumping and Dressage FEI competitions, including the staff surgeon for the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Katherine Strauss is an entrepreneur and retired showjumping athlete. During her showjumping career, she won gold medals at the National Junior Jumper Championship and North American Youth Championship, earned several top placings in five-star Grand Prixes, and represented the United States Equestrian Team in Nations Cup competitions. After graduating cum laude from Vanderbilt University, Katherine discovered her interest in entrepreneurship.