The Belgian biotech firm has developed an antibody against gastrointestinal infections in pigs that can reduce the reliance on antibiotics in animal production.
Animab, a Ghent-based animal health biotech company, has raised €10m from investors led by Flemish state-owned investor PMV, the private equity and venture capital fund of the country’s Farmers’ Union, AIF, and seed and early-stage venture capital fund QBIC.
The funding round was also supported by all of Animab’s existing investors, including sustainable venture capital firm Seventure Partners. Laboratory group Anacura joined as a new investor.
Animab, which was spun out of Belgian life sciences institute VIB, Ghent University and the Free University of Brussels in 2020, is focused on addressing the changing needs of livestock production.
“This milestone reflects our shared belief in Animab’s potential to transform animal health without relying on antibiotics. With the continued support of our investors, we are accelerating the path toward antibiotic-free livestock solutions, enhancing both animal welfare and productivity. This funding also positions us to potentially reach break-even by the end of 2027,” said Alain Wille, CEO of Animab.
The biotech firm plans to use the funding for the commercial launch of its oral antibody as well as the advancement of its broader product pipeline.
Neutralising pathogens
The company, which is backed by the European Union under its InvestEU programme, has designed an antibody that targets enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC F4). This is a leading cause of diarrhoea in piglets that often leads to poor growth and high mortality rates and affects more than 60 million animals in Europe each year.
The product, called Nanoprotec, is given to piglets in their drinking water. It prevents bacterial adhesion to the intestinal wall, which neutralises potentially harmful pathogens. Nanoprotec offers farmers an antibiotic-free and easily scalable alternative to the current medication, which is heavily dependent on antibiotics, the biotech firm said.
With antimicrobial resistance posing a rising threat to global public health, solutions like Nanoprotec are more urgent than ever, according to Kenneth Wils, head of life sciences and care at PMV. Antimicrobial resistance may lead to 22 million deaths annually by 2050, a study in The Lancet last year said.
“Animab offers a revolutionary solution to a long-standing challenge in livestock farming. Their antibiotic-free approach marks a major leap toward sustainable animal health, exactly the type of innovation the European farming sector needs,” said Wils.
Following the completion of clinical trials, Nanoprotec will be sent to the European Medicines Agency for regulatory submission before the end of this year, while a product launch is planned for the end of 2026, according to Animab.
“We are thrilled to join Animab at this pivotal moment. Our decision to invest was based not only on the strength of Nanoprotec and Animab’s promising pipeline, but also on the proven credibility of its leadership,” said Felix Van Camp, a business strategist at Anacura.
