RION, a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company and global leader in exosome-based therapeutics, today announced the formation of Rion Vet, a veterinary biotechnology company advancing platelet-derived exosome-based biologics to address major unmet needs in animal health. The company launches with exclusive global rights to RION’s proprietary Purified Exosome Product (PEP™) platform for veterinary use. Rion Vet anticipates bringing its first product, ePEP-01 for equine musculoskeletal disease, to market after this shelf-stable biologic has shown consistent results in clinical trials over nearly five years of research, discovery and development.
Rion Vet has appointed Mark Herthel Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Herthel is co-founder and former CEO of Platinum Performance (acquired by Zoetis) and owner of Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center, one of the world’s foremost centers for equine innovation. He also led the company’s recently completed $15M Series A financing, anchoring the raise as its lead investor.
“Rion Vet is the natural next step in our mission to drive the regenerative medicine revolution,” said Atta Behfar, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Founder of RION. “This dedicated animal health company will bring decades of exosome science and biomanufacturing expertise straight to veterinarians and animal owners worldwide. With a veterinary industry leader like Mark Herthel, Rion Vet blends breakthrough science with proven veterinary innovation to deliver the next generation of biologics.”
“Rion Vet is uniquely positioned to redefine standards of veterinary care with exosome biologics that deliver consistent, convenient, and scalable therapies,” said Mark Herthel, CEO of Rion Vet. “Our lead candidate, ePEP-01, has been evaluated in more than four years of studies in over 50 horses, showing meaningful improvements in lameness with a strong safety profile. We look forward to presenting the clinical data at upcoming veterinary scientific meetings. With expansion into canine musculoskeletal disease and dermatitis, we are building a broad pipeline with the potential to transform multiple high-value animal health markets.”
Rion Vet will leverage RION’s industry-leading platelet-derived exosome biomanufacturing platform, developed through more than two decades of Mayo Clinic research, to produce ePEP-01 and future products at scale. Beyond equine musculoskeletal disease, the company is advancing programs in canine musculoskeletal disease, atopic dermatitis, wound healing, ocular, respiratory, and cardiac conditions, unlocking an estimated $8–12B global market opportunity.
About Rion Vet
Rion Vet is a clinical-stage veterinary biotechnology company pioneering first-in-class platelet-derived exosome-based therapeutics for use in animals. Spun out of RION and built on more than two decades of Mayo Clinic research, Rion Vet’s lead program, ePEP-01, is aimed toward FDA CVM approval in equine musculoskeletal disease. Rion Vet is also advancing programs in canine musculoskeletal disease and dermatitis, with pipeline opportunities spanning wound, ocular, respiratory, and cardiac indications.
About RION
RION is a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company founded out of the Mayo Clinic Van Cleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program after two decades of stem cell and exosome research and innovation. RION is a global leader in isolating and mass-producing platelet-derived regenerative exosomes into a proprietary therapeutic platform to produce Purified Exosome Product (PEP), a shelf-stable biologic designed to activate the body’s natural healing processes. RION is advancing an ambitious pipeline with clinical and preclinical programs in advanced wound care, immune-mediated dermatology, musculoskeletal injury, pulmonary disease, cardiovascular health, and women’s health. RION’s regenerative PEP technology will be integral to the therapeutic exosome revolution.
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Contacts
Scott McCrea at smccrea@riontx.com