Vetcare's financial support has helped researchers obtain new insights into how vatinoxan affects horses under sedation. Ideally this work will result in a new pharmaceutical product.
Collaboration between the veterinary pharmaceutical company Vetcare and the University of Helsinki has once again delivered interesting results. Recent scientific articles shed light on how the pharmaceutical agent vatinoxan can prevent the adverse effects of a common sedative used on horses.
"We've successfully demonstrated that vatinoxan at least alleviates these effects, if not reversing them altogether," says Director Marja Raekallio of the Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine.
Vatinoxan's use with sedatives is a joint innovation by the University of Helsinki and Vetcare, and the is already available on the market for dogs in Europe and the United States. Vetcare also financially supported the recently completed horse studies to further investigate vatinoxan's potential. The partnership with the University of Helsinki, ongoing for over three decades, has been highly advantageous for the company.
"We gain access to top-level research expertise and are able to contribute to the development of new innovations from the outset," says CEO Veli-Matti Riipinen of Vetcare Innovations.
Promising new research findings
Horses require sedation for procedures such as endoscopy and dental operations. However, sedatives may cause several adverse effects, including reduced blood circulation and digestion, elevated blood sugar levels and increased urination. Vatinoxan is now being investigated as a potential remedy.
In the studies, eight Finnhorses with no underlying health conditions were sedated for four hours on two occasions. During the first session, they received an intravenous dose of the sedative detomidine alone, while in the second session they received a combination of detomidine and vatinoxan. The researchers examined how vatinoxan influences the sedative's adverse effects on the and .
"With vatinoxan, these problems were eliminated or at least significantly reduced. The finding is very promising for future applications," says Senior Clinical Instructor Ninja Karikoski.
The results form part of an extensive programme of University of Helsinki equine studies, including two ongoing doctoral theses. Vatinoxan testing has already begun on the first equine patients in conjunction with gastric endoscopy. The objective is to progress step by step towards commercialising the product.
"Bringing new products to market always takes time, and many questions remain unanswered. But the important thing is that the scientific basis is sound," says Riipinen.
Donations vital to veterinary medicine
Vetcare provided both drugs for the recent studies and financial support for laboratory analyses and horse upkeep. The ongoing support over the years has been highly valuable to the University of Helsinki and yielded significant scientific outcomes. Raekallio estimates that her department has so far produced 14 doctoral theses and some 50 research articles on vatinoxan.
"The support is highly significant in the Finnish context. We're thankful for the chance to work with them", notes Karikoski.
Vetcare has also promoted the University's research by endowing an assistant professorship and funding . With its versatile contributions, the company seeks to maintain the expertise that benefits animals and the broader community.
"We're committed to supporting the continued growth and success of veterinary research in Finland," states Riipinen.
Long-term partnership benefits company
By partnering with researchers, Vetcare can punch above its weight and target the same market as large pharmaceutical companies. Riipinen believes that, as a small and agile country, Finland has the capacity to develop new veterinary pharmaceuticals.
"Here, new ideas can take root and be piloted."
The company wishes to give researchers the freedom and opportunities to pursue bold innovation. The collaboration has worked well both ways.
"We've been able to trial our ideas with a fairly modest budget. When the early results have looked positive, we've then moved on to scaling them up," says Raekallio.
