Stem Cells: The Next Frontier in Pet Health

How stem cells are revolutionizing pet health – moving from boutique procedures to accessible therapies that target the root causes of disease.

Almost 20 years ago, a small biotech company on the outskirts of San Diego founded the field of veterinary regenerative medicine. Fresh out of a PhD in cell and molecular biology and with a background as a veterinarian, I began my career there running clinical trials that explored the effects of adipose-derived stem cells on osteoarthritis in dogs.

I witnessed firsthand the remarkable transformation in dogs suffering from arthritis – pets that once struggled to climb stairs or jump onto the bed were soon chasing tennis balls and acting like puppies again. While we didn’t fully understand the mechanisms of stem cells at the time, the results were undeniable. I fell in love with the space and the idea that we could harness the body’s natural repair mechanisms to enhance healing. This became my life’s work.

Years later, I met Aaron Hirschhorn – a successful entrepreneur and a passionate believer in stem cell therapy. After it helped him recover from a debilitating back injury, he was left wondering: Why wasn’t this available for his dog, who was suffering from severe arthritis? Looking to change that, we partnered to start Gallant.

Our goal was to take stem cell therapy – a solution once reserved for the elite or human medicine – and make it accessible, ethical, and impactful for pets. We wanted to bridge leading-edge science with everyday veterinary care, creating a path for pets to live healthier, pain-free lives. Fast forward to today, and we’re about to bring what could be the industry’s first FDA-approved stem cell therapy for cats to market.

So… what are stem cells, and why are they powerful?

Stem cells got their name because they’re the origin point – or “stem” – from which all other specialized cells in the body can grow. They have two remarkable abilities: they can self-renew (make more of themselves), and they can turn into other types of tissue.

There are several types of stem cells, such as embryonic and hematopoietic. The most commonly used type in regenerative medicine, both in animals and in people, are mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs, which is what we work with at Gallant. These are adult stem cells found in almost every tissue in the body. Common sources for therapeutic use include fat, bone marrow, umbilical cord, and uterus.

While the science is still evolving, we do know that MSCs play a critical role in the body’s natural healing process. For example, when we cut our arm or an organ is damaged, MSCs help orchestrate the repair by secreting factors that rebalance the immune system, promote tissue regeneration, and reduce inflammation. The literature is clear: they act as potent immunomodulators, targeting the root cause of disease rather than just the symptoms.

In veterinary medicine, their power comes down to helping with three key things:

• They help rebalance the immune system and restore healthy immune function in diseases like feline chronic gingivostomatitis, canine inflammatory bowel disease, and many others.

• They help promote tissue repair, supporting the regeneration of joints, tendons, and skin.

• They help reduce inflammation, easing pain and managing inflammation at the source.

Are stem cells a better alternative to traditional therapies?

We’ve established that one of the primary differences between stem cell therapies and traditional therapies is how they work: stem cells help restore the body’s intrinsic healing mechanisms, while conventional medications primarily manage symptoms. But there’s another important distinction to consider – safety.

While drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) and newer monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for osteoarthritis have demonstrated efficacy, they can also come with side effects. These treatments often require ongoing administration and may impact other physiological systems over time, especially in older pets or those with complex medical conditions.

Although there are no direct comparative studies between traditional therapies and stem cell therapies, the off-target effects of conventional therapies can limit long-term use and effectiveness, thus necessitating the development of new therapeutics that are effective and safe, and that target the global dysregulation and disease pathology.

Having an FDA-approved stem cell therapy available will provide an opportunity to rethink how we manage disease – and to choose treatments based on their ability to target the root cause, not just the symptoms.

If stem cells are so promising, why haven’t we seen them used more widely in veterinary care?

The answer is simple: because, until recently, the logistics made it nearly impossible. For years, the only option available was autologous stem cell therapy, where fat or other tissue is taken from the pet, sent to a lab for processing, and then returned as a personalized dose for that same animal. The process takes about three days, requires surgery, and involves at least two vet visits. It’s expensive, almost boutique, and simply out of reach for many.

That was the old way. But that’s starting to change. Allogeneic (or “ready-to-use”) stem cell therapies are finally becoming a reality. December 2024 marked a historic moment when the FDA granted approval to Mesoblast’s RYONCIL®, the first-ever human allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy, offering new hope to children battling steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease. That was a turning point for regenerative medicine.

In our lab, we’ve been working toward the same kind of breakthrough for pets – a therapy that’s scalable, accessible, and regulated. Allogeneic stem cell therapies have the potential to become a new standard of care, not just because they’re easier to deliver, but because they open the door to broader, more equitable access to regenerative medicine.

In the next newsletter, we’ll dig into what really sets autologous and allogeneic stem cells apart – and why that difference could change everything for pets.