Equine Reproduction
Overview
The equine breeding industry currently lacks any effective method that can precisely control follicular development and ovulation. Extracts containing pituitary derived LH and FSH have been shown to be effective; however, the lack of a reliable commercial product has prevented wide use. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is also used but horses often develop an immune response to this foreign protein and repeated use can cause it to become ineffective. GnRH-derived products have been shown to be effective in inducing ovulation in the horse. The only such approved product for use in the horse, Ovuplant™, has been withdrawn due to non-compliance with specific FDA regulations and has been off the market for the past two years. However, a number of compounding pharmacies have entered the market with a number of inexpensive versions of compounded Deslorelin reagents. While Ovuplant is off the market these inexpensive compounded products have devalued the market significantly which has resulted in low market prices for equine ovulation agents. Over time, we expect market value conditions to improve. Equine breeding is seasonal; beginning in early spring through mid summer and therefore products sold for use in equine breeding are sold on a seasonal basis.
Equine products we currently are developing are EquiPure-LH™ (single-chain LH analog for horses) and EquiPure FSH™ (single-chain FSH analog for horses). These specialized products are designed to create more effective breeding programs for horses. The ability to influence the timing of when mares are ready to breed, improving the success rate of bred mares and increasing the number of eggs produced and harvested for transplant, are all valuable in equine reproduction.
