Advertisement

News

Virbac inks deal with biotech company for microalgae-based oral vaccine development

Virbac signed an agreement with TransAlgae to shape the future of vaccination in the field of aquaculture with its disruptive microalgae-based oral delivery technology.

Virbac inks deal with biotech company for microalgae-based oral vaccine development
January 28, 2021

Virbac signed an exclusive business development collaboration agreement with and TransAlgae, which aims to shape the future of vaccination in the field of aquaculture with its disruptive microalgae-based oral delivery technology. The companies signed an exclusive collaboration agreement to develop a vaccine based on TransAlgae's breakthrough technology and are engaged together in a long term business relationship.

TransAlgae uses the microalgae as a factory system for drug production and as a novel bio-encapsulation system, enabling safe delivery of the drug or the vaccine to the target animal through its feed. TransAlgae's drug delivery was demonstrated on fish, crustaceans, poultry and mice as a model for mammals.

The company has successfully completed proof-of-concept trials with one of its oral vaccine expressing algal lines. The vaccine expressing algal powder, mixed with fish feed, evoked a specific titer of antibodies towards the viral agent in the orally vaccinated fish, in a manner similar to the injected vaccine. In addition, orally vaccinated fish demonstrated significant protective immunity and survival rate. 

“TransAlgae's algae-based platform replaces the need for vaccination by injections which are time-consuming and expensive, with a novel, cost-effective, green oral delivery technology,” the company’s deputy CEO & CTO, Dr. Ofra Chen told Aquafeed.com.