ORAL DELIVERY PLATFORM FOR TREATING AQUACULTURE …Shellfish aquaculture has become one of the...
Transcript of ORAL DELIVERY PLATFORM FOR TREATING AQUACULTURE …Shellfish aquaculture has become one of the...
August 20171
ORAL DELIVERY PLATFORM FOR TREATING AQUACULTURE DISEASES
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This presentation has been prepared by ViAqua Therapeutics Ltd. (the “Company”) solely for informational purposes. The information contained herein has been prepared to assist prospective investors in making their own evaluation of the Company and does not purport to be complete or to contain all of the information a prospective or existing investor may desire. In all cases, interested parties should conduct their own investigation and analysis of the Company and the data set forth in this information. The Company has prepared this presentation based on information available to it, including information derived from public sources that have not been independently verified. The Company makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this information and shall not have any liability for any representations (expressed or implied) regarding information contained in, or for any errors omissions in, this presentation. This presentation includes certain statements and estimates provided by the Company with respect to the projected future performance of the Company. Such statements, estimates and projections reflect various assumptions by management concerning possible anticipated results, which assumptions may or may not be correct. No representations are made as to the accuracy of such statements, estimates or projections. This presentation may contain statements that are not historical facts, referred to as “forward looking statements.” The Company’s actual future results may differ materially from those suggested by such statements. No assurance can be given that future events will occur or that projections will be achieved. Past performance is not a reliable indication of future performance. This presentation is not, and nothing in it should be construed as, an offer, invitation or recommendation in respect of the Company’s securities, or an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, the Company’s securities in any jurisdiction. Neither this presentation nor anything in it shall form the basis of any contract or commitment. Prospective investors should not construe the contents of this presentation as business, legal, tax, investment or other advice. Each prospective investor should make his, her or its own inquiries and consult his, her or its own advisors as to the appropriateness and desirability of an investment in the Company and as to business, legal, tax and related matters concerning an investment in the Company.
An investment in the Company shall be allowed only to such number and category of investors in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and pursuant to a predetermined process. Accordingly, detailed information in connection with the investment shall be revealed and delivered only to a limited number of qualifying investors as provided by law.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
ANNUAL GROWTH RATEfor the past decade
SHELLFISH MARKET
10%Asia 89%Americas 10%Africa 0.2%
China 42%Indonesia 23%Vietnam 14.5%India 11.5%Thailand 8.7%
BYCONTINENT
ASIA
Shrimp aquaculture production by major producers in Asia (2016, FAO and GOAL Surveys)
Shrimp aquaculture production(2016, FAO and GOAL Surveys)
Shellfish aquaculture has become one of the fastest growing animal production industries in the world.
$17B MARKET VALUE PER YEAR
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SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE
DISEASE =BIGGEST RISK(FAO 2016)
Undermines market development
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SHRIMP INDUSTRY LOSSES
What can we do about it today?
April 2014
Jan. 2015
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March. 2017
Quote
NO CURRENT TREATMENT!
Today, there are no means to prevent or treat viral diseases in shrimp. When a disease appears, it wipes out the pond within 7-10 days.
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INNOVATIVE APPROACH
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RNA INTERFERENCE Therapeutic approach: silencing key genes of a virus using a method called RNA interference (RNAi)
This process is similar to vaccination.
1 RNA delivered to the cells
2 VIRAL RNAis marked, then triggers cell to react
3 VIRAL RNAis destructed
RNA acts as a TARGET DESIGNATOR. It marks the viral RNA and tells the cell it has an intruder and should prepare to fight it.
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RNAi VERY PROMISING APPROACH FOR TREATING SHRIMP VIRUSES
Injecting the shrimp one by one is not a feasible method for wide use in shrimp aquaculture.
RNAi has very promising results on shrimp viruses when tested with injection. But try to treat 20 tons of shrimps, one-by-one, using a syringe.
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FEEDDELIVERY BY
ViAqua Platform Technology Tailored for Aquaculture
DELIVERYTHE REAL CHALLENGE
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THE CONCEPT NANOPARTICLE CARRIER
• Non-GMO• Non-hormonal• No antibiotic component• Feed-grade formulation• Safe for both shrimp and
humans• Can effect multiple virus
strains per treatment
For each virus, we (1) select and produce an effective RNA sequence, and (2) combine the RNA strands with our specially developed carrier.
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Aquatic Environment Digestive System Cell Membrane
THE ENTIRE PROCESS
pass from the aquatic environment, through the digestive system and ...
into the cells where the RNA is released and triggers the protection response.
Nanoparticles (NPs) are integrated into feed...
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RESULTSTEST
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SUCCESSFUL TRIALS INJECTED VIAQUA NPs1
UntreatedViAqua
Survival %
87% - 93% 0%ArizonaTrial
+
ThailandTrial
99% 0%++
Challenge tests against the WSSV virus performed at two different facilities (Arizona and Thailand) showed that injected ViAqua RNA sequences and ViAqua formulated nanoparticles are highly effective against the virus.
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2 OVERCOME KEY CHALLENGES AQUATIC CONDITIONS
ViAqua nanoparticles are stable in the sea and freshwater aquatic environments
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3 VIAQUA NPs IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
• Carrier protects RNA from enzymatic degradation in digestive system• NPs absorbed through digestive system to induce desired response to virus
This image shows the absorption of the nanoparticles into the shrimp cells.
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4 LAB TESTS INTUBATION INTO DIGESTIVE SYSTEM%
Gen
e ex
pre
ssio
n
ViAqua nanoparticles (NPs), intubated into shrimp digesting system, enter the shrimp cells and trigger the RNAi reaction; tests showed 60-70% gene silencing of the target gene.
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Control no dsRNA
Injection NP1 NP2
90% 70% 60% % Gene Silencing0%
NP = nanoparticle formulation (intubated)
100
80
60
40
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VIAQUA ADVANTAGES
Cost effective 2-3 administrations per life cycle;
estimate 3%-5% increase in total feed price
Delivery platform enables treating wide range of viruses in shrimp and other shellfish species
Know-how enables developing oral delivery for improved fish vaccines
First real solution No treatment to date for shrimp aquaculture diseases
Simple mass administration via feed No addition to work flow
Feed-based components for shorter regulatory process
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TEAM OF EXPERTS
Shai Ufaz, Ph.D.CEO & Co-FounderMolecular biologist; experience in biotechnology, genetic engineering, protein expression; project manager, ProtalixBiotherapeutics, TransAlgae; Ph.D., plant genetics
Shai Einbinder, Ph.D.Co-FounderMarine biologist; experience in product development, management; VP Development & Projects, TransAlgae; CEO, Aurora-V; Ph.D., marine biology
Prof. Avi Schroeder, Chief ScientistExtensive development in fields of RNA delivery and nanotechnology; Ass’t. Prof. of Chemical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology; postdoctoral fellow with Prof. Robert Langer, MIT
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CompanyAcquirer/
License
Deal
TypeYear
App. Deal
Size
Harris Vaccines MERCK Acquisition 2015 NAVaccines animals and
aquaculture
PHARMAQ Zoetis Acquisition 2015 $765 M Aquaculture
Beeologics Monsanto Acquisition 2011 $130 M RNAi technology plants
Rosetta Green Monsanto Acquisition 2013 $37 MRNAi technology
plants/Algae
Devgen Syngenta Acquisition 2012 $522 M RNA plants
RNAi, VACCINES DRIVING M&A ACTIVITY
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IP STATUSUS Patent ApplicationNo. 62/327,605 Filed on 26 April 2016 ViAqua Therapeutics Ltd. Inventors: Shai UFAZ et al.
TITLE: COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR TREATING VIRAL INFECTIONS IN SHRIMPS
All the technology presented here was filed in a PCT application in April 2017.
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Quote
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MicroSynbiotix TransAlgae ViAqua
Technology Transgenic algaeTransgenic algae (protein based drugs, bio-molecules)
Particle formulation
Application AquacultureAquaculture, animal healthcare, crop protection
Aquaculture
Development stage R&D R&D R&D
AdvantagesMaterials produced inside delivery platform; no need for formulation
• Flexible design tailored for delivery of the active material
• High production yield of active material• Not dependent on unstable biological
processes• Smoother regulatory process
Drawbacks
• Difficult to make changes to algal cell to improve delivery• Dependent on biological process (contamination, temperature
changes)• Concentration of active material limited to production yield of
material inside the algae• GM Algae - regulatory issues
Formulation of active material required following production
COMPETITORS DEVELOPING ORAL DELIVERY
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BUSINESS MODEL
ViAqua
• Produce dsRNA + carrier = proprietary nanoparticles
• Sell ViAqua NPs to partner(s)
ViAqua + feed/animal health companies partner to
• Develop feed formulation
• Prepare for mass production
Partner (feed/animal health company)
• Manufacture ViAqua “medical” feed
• Market and sell medical feed via their established distribution/sales networks
Future
• ViAqua to explore licensing its technology to additional feed/animal health companies
• Second product development: oral delivery platform for fish vaccines
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SALES FORECAST ASSUMPTIONS
• Based on feedback from market players +growers
• Aquaculture farmers today spend approximately 2.5% of revenues on vaccine/disease treatment
• Growers willing to pay up to 10% above feed price for specialty/treatment
• First sales ~Q2 2021
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DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES
2017 2018 2019 2020
Milestones Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1
60% survival rate in WSSV challenge test using orally delivered dsRNA
80%-90% survival rate in WSSV challenge test using orally delivered dsRNA – lab scale 80%-90% survival rate in WSSV challenge test using orally delivered dsRNA – field trial
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WHY VIAQUA?
• Highly experienced team
• Experience in working with different delivery platforms, including algae (competitive technology)
• Unique combination of strong backgrounds in multiple disciplines
• Selected chemical engineering approach – enables tailoring exact formulation for oral delivery to shrimp
• Non GMO solution – simpler, faster regulatory path to approval
• Support from the Technion- Israel Institute of Technology – access to extensive knowledge base + state-of-the-art equipment
BRINGING A DESPERATELY NEEDED TREATMENT FOR AQUACULTURE DISEASESContactShai UfazMobile: +972-52-843-0591Email: [email protected]
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