Alpha2EQ – exclusively available in the UK through MerlinVet UK

Alpha2EQ is an orthobiologic product treating equine lameness, joint inflammation, soft tissue injury and airway inflammation through AlphaActive filtration technology. Now available exclusively in the UK through MerlinVet UK.

Key Benefits:

• Two-step centrifugation process functionally isolates the alpha-2-macroglobulin from the horse’s own blood
• Powered by patented AlphaActive filtration technology
• Autologous & drug-free
• Laminitis-risk free
• Versatile for horses in all disciplines – from performance to older horses
• Easy on-site processing
• Freezable for up to 12 months
• No competition withdrawal time
• Multi-dose kit suitable for multiple joints in one session
• Observed results – clinical improvement often seen in 7 days, with effects lasting 6–12 months

What is Alpha2EQ?

Alpha2EQ is a drug-free orthobiologic treatment designed to reduce inflammation and support healing in horses. Alpha2EQ isolates a powerful, naturally occurring anti-inflammatory protein called alpha-2-macroglobulin (α2M) from the horse’s own blood using the patented AlphaActive filtration process, to help manage joint pain, soft tissue injuries, and airway inflammation at the source. 

The AlphaActive process separates the plasma, then filters and functionally isolates the protein, alpha-2-macroglobulin, a powerful inhibitor of cartilage catabolic factors. When injected or applied to areas of inflammation, alpha-2-macroglobulin removes the damage-causing enzymes to help improve the healing process and protect against further damage. This includes slowing the progression of osteoarthritis by preventing cartilage breakdown and loss.

What Conditions Can Alpha2EQ Help Treat?

Alpha2EQ supports the healing of many inflammatory and degenerative conditions, including:

• Osteoarthritis
• Tendon injuries
• Ligament injuries including suspensory injuries
• Synovitis and bursitis
• Airway inflammation (e.g. equine asthma)
• SI dysfunction
• Prophylactic joint management in performance horses

Common treatment areas include:
Coffin joint, hock, stifle, navicular bursa, suspensory branch, cervical facets, SI joint and more.

Horse Racing animals feet hoofs pounding grass track in a speed running motion action photo.

How Does It Work?
α2M is a large glycoprotein found in the bloodstream. It binds and neutralizes destructive enzymes responsible for cartilage breakdown, joint pain, and inflammation. Due to its size, α2M cannot always reach the areas where it’s needed most. Alpha2EQ solves this by concentrating and delivering α2M directly to affected tissues, promoting healing and protecting against further damage.

The patented AlphaActive filtration process functionally isolates α2M through a two-step centrifugation and filtration method to concentrate and isolate α2M from a small sample of whole blood. This results in a highly purified product that targets inflammation at the source. Unlike other plasma-based products, Alpha2EQ selectively removes harmful plasma proteins, delivering a cleaner, more targeted formulation.

Once isolated, α2M can be injected intra-articularly or applied to affected areas of inflammation to remove damage-causing enzymes and reduce inflammation, improve the healing process and protect against further damage.

How long does Alpha2EQ last?

In most cases, the results of the treatment can be observed within a few days of the procedure and may have long-lasting effects of 6-12 months. Sometimes a series of injections may be needed. Prophylactic use as a chondroprotectant is recommended.

Products available through MerlinVet UK:

• Alpha2EQ Centrifuge
• Alpha2EQ Centrifuge Conversion Kit
• Alpha2EQ 15ml
• Alpha2EQ 30ml
• Alpha2EQ Travel Case
• Centifruge Counter Balance
• Flexineb Nebulizer – Complete Kit

Want to find out more?

Please click here to visit the Alpha2EQ page on the MerlinVet website.

Visit the MerlinVet UK website or contact Marylise:

marylise@merlinvet.co.uk

+447590 714539

MerlinVet and Numnuts® will be exhibiting at The Royal Highland Show 2025 at Ingliston in Edinburgh from Thursday 19th – Sunday 22nd June 2025. You’ll be able to find us amongst the sheep in the NSA Marquee, Avenue M, Stand 1B.

After a fantastic turnout at the NSA Highland Sheep in Ardgay, it will be great to see as many new and familiar faces as possible at RHS 2025. Come along to the Numnuts® stand to have a go on Baaaary, our Demo Lamb, or alternatively try to guess the number of rings in the jar to win a Numnuts® device and, while you’re there, feel free to pick up some Numnuts branded merch.

MerlinVet Sponsoring Hampshire Down Class

Merlin will again be sponsoring the Hampshire Down class. You can find more information below:

To be judged at 09.00 on Friday 20th June

Judge: Mrs Lucy Heywood, Watchet, Somerset

Please note Sheep Regulation 51: Where there is a Flock Book, all sheep must be entered or be eligible for entry in that Flock Book. Exhibitors need not be members of the Breed Society

81 RAM, two shear or above

82 SHEARLING RAM, shorn bare on or after 1st March in current year

83 RAM LAMB, born on or after 1st December in the previous year

84 AGED EWE, to have reared a lamb in current year

85 SHEARLING EWE, shorn bare on or after 1st March in current year

86 EWE LAMB, born on or after 1st December in previous year

View the full livestock schedule here

For tickets to the Royal Highland Show and for more information, please click here

MerlinVet will be exhibiting at the VET Trust Conference 2025 which will be taking place on Tuesday 3rd – Wednesday 4th June at the Stirling Court Hotel in Stirling. The conference aims “to provide topical and useful education targeted at Veterinary Surgeons in practice in a setting where there is ample opportunity to meet informally with speakers, colleagues, pharmaceutical and equipment representatives.”

There will be several different streams at the conference, including equine, companion animal, nurse, and production animal. The AGM will be held on the Tuesday at 17.15 with the conference dinner taking place afterwards from 19.00 onwards.

You can book your conference tickets here.

You’ll be able to meet with representatives of the team covering MerlinVet-cel, MerlinSPS, and MerlinVet UK.

MerlinVet has been nominated in the British Business Awards 2025, as one of the Top 8 Growth Strategy Businesses in the UK. 

The British Business Awards 2025, in association with NatWest, has announced MerlinVet in the top eight growth strategy businesses in the UK. MerlinVet will now go up against Dynisma Ltd, The PureGym Group, Babcock International, Nucleus Financial Platforms Ltd, RSK, Gap group and Popeyes. 

143 companies across 18 awards are now vying for the top spot at the ceremony in Edinburgh on the 24 April 2025. You can view the full shortlist here.

More than 300 companies entered the British Business Awards. The shortlisted businesses were chosen by an independent shortlisting panel. Each entry was carefully examined and judged on their positive impact to their workforce, sector and overall contribution to the British economy. The shortlist will now go forward to the main judging panel comprising of 18 independent judges, all key figures from British industry including Vinodka Murria OBE, Phil Urban, CEO of Mitchells & Butlers and Emma Crystal, CEO Coutts Bank. 

The awards are raising funds for beneficiary homelessness charity Social Bite, with a target of raising £1million through the event and a fundraising lunch happening earlier in the day, being organised with Gleneagles Hotel. The awards dinner will take place at the EICC on 24 April and tables are already in high demand with up to 2000 business leaders set to attend.  

Alan Jope CBE, former CEO of Unilever and Chair of the judging panel said: “In spite of the economic headwinds facing British businesses, our incredible shortlist shows that leading British companies are thriving and in turn are powering the economy and job creation through their hard work and resilience. It came across loud and clear from the hundreds of entries we received for the awards that businesses are having to innovate and adapt like never before. It’s been inspirational to see the incredible work that’s going on behind the scenes in companies of all shapes and sizes across the UK.

“The 2025 shortlist reflects the hugely diverse range of businesses we have in this country, and I know our judging panel are going to have some tough decisions on their hands when it comes to determining our winners.”

Guests at the British Business Awards are being treated to a fireside chat and a rare, unplugged music performance from the iconic musician and activist Sting. The evening will be hosted by comedian, presenter and TV star, Rob Brydon and feature a keynote address from the event’s patron Sir Bob Geldof, who is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Band Aid in 2025.

For further information on the awards or to buy tickets visit: www.britishbusinessawards.co.uk

About MerlinVet

MerlinVet is a full-service veterinary solutions provider for practices in both the UK and abroad, with specialisms in fertility equipment, sourcing Special Import Products which other wholesalers cannot provide, and exporting veterinary products globally.

With additional expertise in providing health plan solutions and developing new veterinary software, as well as gas exposure monitoring and our buying group, our deep sector knowledge can add a touch of animal magic to practices, and ultimately fulfil our main ambitions of supporting the veterinary industry while enhancing animal health and welfare.

Find out more here

MerlinVet’s Managing Director, David Taylor, and MerlinVet-cel’s Group Business Development Manager, Jane Hutcheon, recently attended the annual Highlands & Islands Veterinary Services Scheme Conference in Inverness.

The scheme’s aim is to ‘ensure the provision of an adequate veterinary service to prevent & eradicate animal diseases for all animals kept for agricultural purposes and belonging to crofters and others of like economic status.’ The Highlands & Islands Veterinary Services Scheme supports large animal veterinary practices in remote areas of the Scottish Highlands and Islands to provide practical veterinary cover to crofters and their animals, which is vital in the role of preventing & identifying animal disease.

Clarification on the Law in Scotland

Andrew Voas,  Scottish Government Veterinary Head of Animal Welfare spoke on the updated legislation of lamb tail docking and castration. As distributors of Numnuts, the MerlinVet team were able to demonstrate to vets the advantages and ease of use of the device, thus being able to support their farmers when the time comes later in Spring. Andrew Voas reaffirmed that it is legal in Scotland to use rings for lamb marking up to 12 weeks of age provided that a local anaesthetic is used. Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) officers in attendance stated that now that there is a legal and approved means of applying local anaesthetic at the time of ringing, then farms who are ringing at over 7 days and not using local anaesthetic will be penalised.

This clarification brings significant relief to Scottish farmers and veterinarians seeking reassurance on the legality of using Numnuts. This innovative method minimises the pain and distress typically associated with traditional rubber ringing procedures. Scottish legislation allows this practice up to 3 months, ensuring adherence to animal welfare standards and providing a compassionate alternative to older methods.

Current legislation is more restrictive in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with rubber rings for castration or tail docking being prohibited on lambs older than 7 days. We are hopeful that the situation will change – please consider petitioning your local MP or NFU Representative to align the legislation across the UK.

Numnuts^®

Numnuts^® is a 2-in-1 device that administers an Elastrator^® ring along with a pre-calibrated dose of local anaesthetic. This device makes giving fast-acting targeted pain relief for castration and tail docking of lambs easy, fast, and safe. The Numnuts^® Device allows farmers and vets to provide best practice without compromising on safety and efficiency. No other device exists that allows farmers and vets to provide targeted pain relief to lambs during tail docking and castration.

View more information on Numnuts here

Order Numnuts here

Other sessions also included the eradication of sheep scab, and Glasgow Vet School gave a demonstration of their calving simulator used for vet students and farmers. Hector Low from Stornoway Vets, pictured below with Jane, won the prize raffle competition on the stand, taking home a bottle of MerlinVet-branded Caorunn Gin.