Elita Summary

Pancreatitis remains one of the most challenging conditions in small animal practice, painful, often recurrent, and potentially fatal. This 2025 clinical study explored a novel approach using a membrane-free stem cell extract (MF-STEM), a third-generation stem cell therapy derived from human adipose tissue and free of membrane components, reducing immunogenicity and simplifying administration.

The results? Striking. Compared to conventional therapy alone, dogs receiving MF-STEM showed higher survival, faster biomarker resolution, and no reported adverse effects.

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Study Design at a Glance

• Clinical setting: Two Korean animal hospitals
• Sample size: 145 dogs diagnosed with pancreatitis
• Groups:
  • Test group (n = 63): received MF-STEM + conventional therapy
  • Control group (n = 82): received conventional therapy only
• Markers tracked: cPL, CRP, liver and kidney panels
• Outcomes measured: Biomarker trends, survival rate, side effects

MF-STEM was administered IV at 0.2 vials/kg/day for an average of 3.09 days. Dogs were discharged after two symptom-free days.

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What Did They Find?

1. Survival Rates

• MF-STEM group: 92% survival
• Control group: 46% survival
• This marks a 46% absolute increase in survival with stem cell therapy.

2. Inflammation Markers

• In severe pancreatitis:
  • cPL decreased from 931 → 192 ng/mL in MF-STEM group; increased in controls
  • CRP dropped from 8.5 → 0.9 mg/L with MF-STEM; increased to 13.2 in controls

3. Biomarker Recovery

• Across all severities, dogs receiving MF-STEM had significant reductions in cPL and CRP.
• Liver enzyme improvements (ALT, ALKP) were noted only in the test group.

4. Safety Profile

• No allergic reactions, GI upset, or injection-related side effects were reported.

5. Dosing Insight

• 88% of dogs recovered with 4 or fewer MF-STEM treatments.
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Strengths of the Study

• Real-world setting: Conducted in busy clinical hospitals with diverse canine populations.
• Objective markers: cPL and CRP used to monitor progression and treatment response.
• Therapeutic innovation: Explores a non-cellular, off-the-shelf stem cell–derived option that sidesteps immune rejection risks.
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Caveats and Considerations

• Not double-blinded: Treatment group may have received closer observation.
• Economic bias: Only hospitalised dogs included; outpatient cases excluded.
• Proprietary product: MF-STEM was developed by one of the study authors (disclosed).
• No long-term follow-up: Recurrence rates or long-term pancreatic health weren’t assessed.
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Why It Matters to Us

Pancreatitis remains a top cause of emergency hospitalisation and euthanasia in companion animals. This study demonstrates a promising adjunct to current care, especially for severe or high-risk patients where conventional therapy often fails.

At Elita, we’re closely watching the development of third-generation regenerative biologics, like MF-STEM, that combine the advantages of stem cell therapy with the consistency and safety of pharmaceutical products. Studies like this one push the field closer to reliable, scalable solutions for complex inflammatory disease in pets.