#Canada #Vancouver #Aquaculture #BioVaxys #SpayVac

BioVaxys and SpayVac's Expansion into Aquaculture

BioVaxys Technology Corp., a Vancouver-based biopharmaceutical company, and SpayVac for Wildlife, Inc., headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, have announced an exciting extension of their license agreement. This expansion includes new applications in commercial aquaculture, targeting farm-raised fish populations. The agreement positions SpayVac's advanced fertility control vaccines within the fast-growing global aquaculture market.

The recent insights from Seafish indicate that the annual harvest of notable species in aquaculture, particularly Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout, reaches approximately 3.28 million metric tons. This astounding figure translates to nearly 800 million individual fish, indicating a splendid opportunity for SpayVac. As stated by Thomas D'Orazio, CEO of SpayVac-for-Wildlife, this presents a considerable addressable market for their contraceptive vaccines, which are being developed as an alternative to triploidy, a common genetic modification to induce sterility in fish.

Currently, the traditional methods require multiple doses and are significantly costlier. In contrast, SpayVac’s unique approach utilizing a single-dose immunocontraceptive vaccine not only enhances compatibility but also promises easier management of fish reproduction within aquaculture settings. BioVaxys’ patented liposome-based delivery mechanism encapsulates the antigen, thereby generating sustained immune responses against reproductive systems of targeted species.

In practical trials, SpayVac's pZP vaccines have consistently shown effectiveness over extended periods and across various species, including seals, deer, and horses. Notably, the efficacy durability ranges from four to ten years – a remarkable advantage over existing solutions.

The collaboration has reached a pivotal point, advancing to a second development phase aimed at optimizing injection timing tailored to the fish’s life cycle. Initial proof-of-concept studies have produced promising results, bolstering confidence in the vaccine's future application.

With various studies demonstrating the successful application in mammals, SpayVac has begun submitting the necessary documentation for regulatory approvals aimed at addressing feral horse and deer populations. The vast potential clientele for SpayVac includes the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which is focusing on deploying this innovative solution to effectively manage population control in wild horse and burro numbers.

Historically, feral horses in public lands have been a pressing concern, with the BLM estimating about 53,797 present in the wild against an appropriate management level of 22,637. Such overpopulation can lead to severe ecological imbalance, including soil deterioration and adverse effects on native flora and fauna. Existing strategies involve population removals and fertility control, but the recurring need for boosters presents cost and logistics challenges.

The introduction of a single-dose vaccine like SpayVac aims to mitigate these issues, offering a highly efficient and effective method to control these growing populations sustainably. According to Dr. Ursula Bechert, VP of Research and Development at SpayVac, the preliminary results show promising immune responses from differently administered doses, which could significantly influence future vaccination protocols.

The geographic scope of feral horse management isn't confined to the U.S., as Australia faces a parallel challenge with an estimated 400,000 feral horses, which are expanding at alarming rates of around 18% per year. This necessitates an urgent and effective response, and SpayVac’s innovative technology could play a fundamental role in tackling this global issue.

In conclusion, the joint expansion from BioVaxys and SpayVac into the aquaculture sector not only showcases the immense revenue potential but also presents significant ecological benefits. With a growing interest in sustainable and humane animal management solutions, SpayVac’s pioneering immunocontraceptive vaccines are set to become game-changers not just in aquaculture but also in managing wildlife populations worldwide.

BioVaxys and SpayVac are committed to leveraging their respective strengths to create a healthier balance between human interventions, animal populations, and ecological integrity, steering advancements in biopharmaceutical technology and wildlife management.