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Equine Pharmacology Laboratory

Equine Pharmacology at New Bolton CenterIn 2006, Dr. Lawrence R. Soma, VMD, and professor of Large Animal Medicine at New Bolton Center, and Dr. Cornelius E. Uboh, director of the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory (PETRL) in West Chester, PA, and their respective teams at Penn Vet and PETRL became the first research group in the world to develop and establish a method for confirming blood-doping agents in racehorse serum.

Previously only the antibodies caused by the drug, not the drug itself, were detectable in the blood. Used in human and small animal veterinary medicine to treat conditions that produce anemia such as cancer and renal disease, erythropoetin (EPO) is a natural hormone protein produced in the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell production. Recombinant human eythropoietin (rhEPO) and darbepoetin-alfa (DPO) are genetically engineered versions of EPO.

Contact Information

Mary Robinson, VMD/PhD

Phone: 610-925-6610
Fax: 610-925-6820
Email: maronbins@vet.upenn.edu

In Pennsylvania, the Racing Commissions (one for harness racing, one for flat racing) mandate a zero tolerance drug policy on race day with the exception of two selected nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and, currently furosemide (Lasix).

The practical nature of a zero tolerance policy is often questioned for horses in training or at any advanced level of competition.

These horses are professional athletes. Consider that professional football players often play with minor (or even moderate injuries) and are allowed the use of pain-relieving medications, such as the NSAIDs acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) during competition.

Even intra-articular glucocorticoids are an accepted medical treatment in humans, and only need to be declared when blood and urine samples are obtained for drug testing.

However, the situation for the race horse differs.

Veterinarians are encouraged by the Commissions to take care of injured horses, however the horse is not allowed in competition if detectable concentrations of therapeutic medications are present in the blood or urine.
The NBC-PETRL group works to provide solutions to this difficult situation. Research studies are designed to determine the rate at which the horse eliminates the drug (pharmacokinetics), and the effect the drug has on the horse (pharmacodynamics).

The PETRL group has developed methods to quantitate a large number of drugs in horse blood or urine, and performs the screening and confirmation for all PA race horse samples, amounting to more than 40,000 samples per year.

Because of the strong longstanding support from the PA Racing Commissions, the NBC/PETRL group has been able to provide leadership in drug testing research.

The NBC-PETRL mission is to provide accurate information to policy makers and enforcers, veterinarians, and horsemen on therapeutic and non-therapeutic drug use in race horses to help ensure the integrity of the sport, and more importantly the welfare of the horse during those intense and exciting two minutes of competition.
Even intra-articular glucocorticoids are an accepted medical treatment in humans, and only need to be declared when blood and urine samples are obtained for drug testing.