Biotech expands after seeing increased demand for its services
A Coventry biotech that uses revolutionary science to help animals with conditions such as arthritis is expanding its operational base after experiencing strong growth.
Cell Therapy Sciences provides a stem cell culture service to vet practices across the country, working mostly with dogs and horses.
The firm, established at the University of Warwick Science Park’s Venture Centre three years ago, is headed up by science director Dr Joanna Miller and clinical director Dr Christine Standen.
When it first began, Cell Therapy Sciences had 30 vets on board wanting to use its services, but over the last three years this has grown to more than 100.
Research has suggested that 95% of dogs with arthritis receiving stem cell treatment see a clinical improvement in their condition; it is this that has led to the company to expand – although it is remaining a tenant of the science park.
It has opted to extend its laboratory space and is also taking extra office space.
Dr Miller said: “Our work has been building up over the last three years and we now have a strong reputation within the veterinary industry.
“This has meant that we have had to extend within the Venture Centre, increasing the size of our laboratory and taking more office space.”
The stem cell culture process sees vets take a small amount of fat from the animal, send it to the team, who then extract the stem cells. They normally start with less than a million and then grow them so that there are between 10 and 15 million cells in each treatment.
The stem cells are then frozen in liquid nitrogen and saved until the vet wants to carry out the treatment. They are then shipped out to vets and injected into the animal.
Cell Therapy Sciences is an authorised stem cell culture laboratory with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to ensure that every therapy is produced to the highest standards and quality.
Karen Aston, centre manager at the Venture Centre, said: “It is fantastic to see that Cell Therapy Sciences is flourishing – not just within the University of Warwick Science Park, but also within the industry.
“The team has worked hard to establish themselves and provide a service that has seen them become a reputable name within their field.”
