Amendments to the Rules of Racing – Cyclosporine Implants
Amendments to the Rules of Racing – Cyclosporine Implants; effective from 2 April 2018.
Cyclosporine implants are used in the treatment of immune mediated corneal disease and autoimmune uveitis, in particular Equine Recurrent Uveitis. This relatively uncommon condition results in recurrent inflammatory episodes in the eye and may cause blindness. A suprachoroidal cyclosporine implant is a device which delivers a sustained therapeutic level of cyclosporine for approximately three years, and studies have shown that systemic uptake of the implanted drug is poor. In order to place and remove the implants, horses must undergo ocular surgery under general anaesthetic. It is not considered to be in the interests of horse welfare to mandate that they must be removed for racing.
Addition to Schedule (B)3
8.1 The horse must not have any implant apart from one that is pharmacologically inactive.
8.2 Paragraph 8.1 does not apply where the implant is a suprachoroidal cyclosporine implant for the treatment of immune mediated corneal disease or autoimmune uveitis in specific, documented and monitored cases.
Additional Rule (C)17D
17D Information about suprachoroidal cyclosporine implants
17D.1 Where a horse undergoes surgery for the placement of a suprachoroidal cyclosporine implant, a Licensed or Permitted Trainer must notify the BHA Equine Health and Welfare Department within 7 days of surgery with a certificate, signed by a veterinary surgeon to this effect.