Human embryonic stem cell-derived MSCs and MSC extracellular vesicles in geriatric small dogs with cognitive and behavioral changes (pilot)
A pilot study at three animal hospitals in Seoul randomly divided 42 client-owned geriatric small dogs (11 years or older, 3-12 kg, mostly Maltese and Miniature Poodles) with cognitive and behavioral changes into a group given one intravenous dose of human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (n = 21) and a group given two subcutaneous doses of ES-MSC extracellular vesicles (n = 21). CCDR and LOAD questionnaire scores and blood safety tests were compared before and 2 weeks after treatment. No notable side effects were seen and both groups showed improved CCDR and LOAD scores; there was no placebo or untreated arm.
Record
| Design | pilot study |
|---|---|
| Status | completed |
| Setting | client owned |
| Intervention | Human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ES-MSCs) by a single intravenous injection, or ES-MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (ES-MSC-EVs) by two subcutaneous injections |
| Intervention class | cell or gene therapy |
| Comparator | None (two active arms compared; no placebo or untreated group) |
| Dose regimen | ES-MSC: single intravenous injection of 1.0 x 10^7 cells for dogs 3-7 kg or 2.0 x 10^7 cells for dogs 7-12 kg; ES-MSC-EV: 1.0 x 10^10 particles per dog subcutaneously on the first day and 1 week later |
| Duration | 2 weeks after treatment |
| Dogs | 42 |
| Population note | 21 ES-MSC and 21 ES-MSC-EV; 43 recruited, 42 participated |
| Breed | Maltese and Miniature Poodle most common; mixed small breeds |
| Age | 11 years or older; median age 14 years (ES-MSC) and 13 years (ES-MSC-EV) |
| Other | geriatric small dogs (3 to 12 kg) exhibiting cognitive and behavioral changes; owners willing to participate; treated at three animal hospitals in Seoul, Republic of Korea |
| Primary outcome | Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Rating (CCDR) and Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) scores before and 2 weeks after treatment; safety by complete blood count and serum chemistry |
| Result (as reported) | No notable side effects were detected in either group, and the questionnaire survey revealed that both groups showed alleviation in CCDR and LOAD scores following administration. |
| Lead organisation | Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Republic of Korea (cell production and IACUC approval) with Helix Animal Hospital, Korean Animal Cancer Center and Songjeong Animal Medical Center, Seoul |
| Sponsor or funder | No financial support declared; several authors employed by Daewoong Co., Ltd. and Daewoong Pet, Corp. |
| Tags | stem-cells, extracellular-vesicles, cognition, mobility, pilot, client-owned |
Notes: Two active arms with no control group and only a 2-week follow-up; cells are human ESC-derived and produced by Daewoong Pharmaceutical, whose employees are among the authors.
Sources and verbatim quotes
Evaluation of cognitive and mobility function in geriatric dogs following treatment with stem cell and stem cell extracellular vesicles derived from embryonic stem cells: a pilot study. (2025) PMID 40206251 (results)
Declining physical or mental health in older dogs can lead to changes in the dog's cognitive and musculoskeletal function.
In the present study, geriatric small dogs exhibiting cognitive and behavioral changes were treated with human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stemcells (ES-MSCs,
Before and 2 weeks after treatment, the cognitive and mobility status of the dogs were assessed using theCanine Cognitive Dysfunction Rating (CCDR) and the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) scale.
Additionally, safety assessments were conducted through blood tests such as complete blood count and serum chemistry.
Following an assessment of clinical symptoms and blood tests in both the groups receiving ES-MSC and ES-MSC-EVs treatments, no notable side effects were detected. Moreover, the questionnaire survey revealed that both groups showed alleviation in CCDR and LOAD scores following administration.
These findings suggest that ES-MSC and ES-MSC-EV treatments have the potential to be used as a therapeutic option for improving clinical symptoms of degenerative diseases such as canine cognitive dysfunction and degenerativemusculoskeletal diseases in elderly dogs.
Evaluation of cognitive and mobility function in geriatric dogs following treatment with stem cell and stem cell extracellular vesicles derived from embryonic stem cells: a pilot study. (2025) PMID 40206251 (design)
Forty-three dogs aged 11 years or older and weighing 3 to 12 kg whose owners were willing to participate in the study were initially recruited into the study.
Ultimately, 42 dogs participated in this test, and were randomly divided into ES-MSC administration group and ES-MSC-EV administration group.
This study was conducted at three animal hospitals: Helix Animal Hospital, Korean Animal Cancer Center, and Songjeong Animal Medical Center, all located in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Twenty-one dogs in ES-MSC group were injected intravenously with ES-MSCs only once. The dosage per injection was 1.0 × 10^7^ cells for dogs weighing 3–7 kg and 2.0 × 10^7^ cells for dogs weighing 7–12 kg.
Twenty-one dogs in ES-MSC-EV group received two administrations of ES-MSC-EV, on the first day and 1 week later. ES-MSC-EV was administered via subcutaneous injection. The dosage per injection was 1.0 × 10^10^ particles per dog, regardless of body weight.
Maltese, Miniature poodles were most common breeds in both groups.
| Median age, years | 14 | 13 |
This study was conducted following the protocols approved by the Institutional Animals Care and Use Committee of Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Republic of Korea, and in compliance with the authorized guidelines (Approval number: IACUC-24-047).
The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article.
T-YK, J-AC, H-KO, SY, and JY were employed by Daewoong, Co., Ltd. J-BM and SW were employed by Daewoong Pet, Corp.
Reproduce: canine_trial_search(trial_id="es-msc-and-ev-geriatric-small-dogs-cognition-mobility-pilot-2025") in dog-geroscience-mcp; dataset canine-trial-registry.