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EMA committee recommends first stem cell-based veterinary medicine
Arti-cell Forte is recommended for use in horses with mild to moderate lameness related to joint inflammation.
Arti-cell Forte indicated for use in horses with lameness

The first stem cell-based veterinary medicine has been recommended for marketing authorisation in the European Union by The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products (CVMP).

Arti-cell Forte is recommended for use in horses with mild to moderate lameness related to joint inflammation. It is available as a suspension for injection and is given as a single injection into the affected joint.

In a press release, the EMA said the stem cells in the medicine are treated so they develop towards cartilage cells. This can then help to repair damaged cartilage in the joint.

‘In a field study conducted in horses with lameness of the fetlock joint, Arti-Cell Forte showed a statistically significant improvement in the horses treated with the medicine compared with a placebo control group six weeks after treatment,’ the EMA writes. ‘The positive effect of treatment was sustained over one year.’

Common side effects of the medicine reported in the study were mild increase in lameness and injection site reactions in the week following treatment.

The CVMP’s recommendation will now be passed on to the European Commission for a decision on an EU-wide marketing authorisation. 

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.