Therapeutic antibodies are being used increasingly in the clinic for the treatment of various diseases. Yet, oral to gut targeting of antibodies remained a challenge due to their incapability to survive digestion and reach gastrointestinal tissues.

The VIB labs of Nico Callewaert, Ann Depicker, Henri De Greve, and the group of Eric Cox at the UGent Faculty of Veterinary Medicine have developed a new antibody technology that combines the advantages of antibody-based therapies with the convenience of oral drug administration.

Importantly, these antibodies are manufactured using yeast or soybean in a process as straightforward as food manufacturing.

These antibodies were further improved to improve the health and performance of farm animals by targeting specific disease-causing pathogens, without altering the healthy microbiome.

We obtained proof-of-concept with the technology in young piglets. Post-weaning diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is an economically important disease in pig farming worldwide.

Our antibody technology can provide swine farmers with an alternative to antibiotics for the control of gastrointestinal pathogens, contributing to more sustainable animal farming.

Animab is backed by a solid European investor consortium who invested 3.4 M€ in a seed round led by Seventure Partners and PMV, and with the participation of Agri Investment Fund, V-Bio Ventures and VIB.

Although the company initially focuses on ETEC protection in piglets, it will rapidly expand its pipeline with new product opportunities that target bacteria, viruses and host factors in livestock animals, spanning a range of gastrointestinal indications.