The New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre and AgriZeroNZ are backing biotech venture Lucidome Bio with funding as it spearheads the next phase in research to create a methane vaccine.
AgriZeroNZ is providing $8.5 million and the NZAGRC $5m to Lucidome Bio. The company’s interim chief executive, David Aitken, said the funding will allow them to build the team, carry out field trials in animals and progress development of the vaccine for farmers.
Lucidome Bio builds on research led by AgResearch’s team of globally renowned immunologists and microbiologists.
It was established by AgriZeroNZ to bring together New Zealand’s vaccine technology, intellectual property, team and funding into a compelling, investible entity and help deliver a world-first solution to market.
Prior to this, the research had received support and funding from multiple organisations including the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium and the New Zealand government (Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment; Ministry for Primary Industries) through the NZAGRC.
AgriZeroNZ chief executive Wayne McNee said a vaccine that reduces methane from ruminant animals would be a transformational tool for the agricultural sector “as it’s a low cost, high-impact solution which has the potential to be adopted into all farming systems”.
“We’re really pleased to be backing Lucidome Bio, alongside the NZAGRC, in a shared effort to get a vaccine to farmers sooner,” said McNee.
A successful vaccine would trigger an animal’s immune system to generate antibodies in saliva that suppress the growth and function of methane-producing microbes (methanogens) in the rumen, significantly reducing the quantity of the potent greenhouse gas it burps out.
NZAGRC executive director Naomi Parker said the reliance on antibody production in saliva and the complex nature of the rumen make the work incredibly challenging, however the progress to date gives confidence it can achieve success.
“We’re proud to be long-standing supporters of this work and help Lucidome Bio achieve a world-first by turning the vaccine’s research legacy into a safe and effective tool for farmers.
“This is no easy task, but the research team has made significant progress over the years and achieved many groundbreaking advancements which provide critical foundations to support future success.”
AgResearch will continue to be a partner, providing scientists to Lucidome Bio as well as access to research facilities. The Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium also remains a shareholder alongside AgriZeroNZ.
The funding follows the announcement in August from the Bezos Earth Fund to provide US$9.4m ($15m) for an international consortium to build scientific evidence for a methane vaccine.
Led by researchers at the Pirbright Institute and the Royal Veterinary College, the AgResearch scientists (now seconded to Lucidome Bio) will provide expertise in rumen microbiology and immunology.
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