MYOS RENS Technology, an advanced nutrition company and the owner of Fortetropin, a proprietary bioactive composition derived from fertilized egg yolk that helps build lean muscle, announced that it has signed an agreement with Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine to evaluate the impact of Fortetropin on quality of life and activity in geriatric dogs. The study will be performed under the supervision of Kenneth R. Harkin, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), Professor and Section Head, Small Animal Internal Medicine.
This veterinary clinical study follows the announcement of positive results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that examined the impact of Fortetropin on recovery following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery in dogs. Dr. Harkin also served as the Principal Investigator for the earlier study and presented the results at the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) Conference / VMX on Jan. 20.
Forty (40) geriatric dogs that suffer from three of the following conditions will be recruited to participate in the study: weakness, weight loss, slowed or altered mobility, or exercise intolerance. Twenty (20) of these dogs will be assigned to receive Fortetropin and 20 will be assigned to receive a macronutrient-matched placebo. All of the dogs participating in the study will be fitted with an activity collar. After two weeks of initial activity monitoring, the dogs will receive either Fortetropin or placebo for 12 weeks. The Quality of Life (QOL) assessment will be based on the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) Questionnaire.
Dr. Harkin commented, "Pet owners often remark that their dog is "slowing down" as they enter their golden years. Although osteoarthritis is often tipped as the culprit, the loss of muscle mass associated with old age is an under-appreciated cause. Geriatric dogs with muscle mass loss fatigue easily, which by itself can negatively impact their quality of life. Numerous testimonials by pet owners suggest that Fortetropin supplementation has a positive influence on quality of life and activity levels in geriatric dogs. Based on these reports and the positive results from our previous study showing improvement in recovery from orthopedic surgery, I believe that a study examining the impact of Fortetropin on geriatric dogs is warranted."
Joseph Mannello, CEO, MYOS, commented, "I believe that MYOS is uniquely positioned to address muscle health in animals. We have a very strong intellectual property position that forms the backbone of our animal health business. What distinguishes MYOS from its competitors is the unique formulation of our products which are supported by rigorous scientific research conducted at leading academic institutions. We are very pleased to work with Kansas State University on another veterinary clinical research study, supporting our potential 'game-changing' efforts in animal health."
