Sperm Booster - Semen Additive for Livestock Artificial Insemination

Peter Sutovsky, PhD, Dr.h.c.

Sutovsky Lab

Fertilization Male infertility in humans Male fertility in livestock

species Assisted Reproductive

Technologies/Therapy (ART)

Improvement of Artificial Insemination (AI)

Tech Transfer & Startups

Artificial Insemination (AI)

Increases reproductive efficiency

Limits spread of infectious diseases

Disseminates genes of bulls/boars with superior production traits

Unmet Market Need

Annual semen sales: $1.5 billion (dairy) $250 million (beef) $600 million (swine)

Mature industry, with two hot spots: Sexed semen Higher fertility

Need to maximize output of semen from bulls/boars with valuable genetic traits

Problem

Poor semen quality

High sperm number needed per AI dose

Poor sperm survival during processing (freezing), storage & distribution reduces pregnancy rates after AI

Solution

Simple, cheap additive that increases sperm survival during semen processing and storage, and after sexing, freezing and thawing

Principle – like adding an electric motor to a gasoline engine in a hybrid sport car

Sperm cells produce ATP to fuel their movement, necessary for fertilization

External ATP can be added to improve sperm movement and but is prohibitively expensive and unstable

We discovered that sperm can utilize inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) to supplement ATP as energy source

Contrary to ATP, PPi is very stable and cheap

Value Proposition

Increased bull/boar fertility translates into significant additional income to cattlemen, swine industry and AI semen distributors

We will develop two fertility related products: Additive for bull semen Extender for boar semen

Milestones

1. PROOF OF THE CONCEPT – evaluation of sperm viability and energy production with/without PPi addition: COMPLETED

2. VALIDATION RESEARCH - test tube fertilization with PPi supplemented stored semen: COMPLETED

3. FIELD TRIALS - artificial insemination with PPi-supplemented semen - ONGOING

PPi Extends The Fertilizing Ability of Boar Sperm Cells Stored for 4 Days at Room

Temperature.Yi et al., 2012, PLoS One

7(4):e34524

Field Trials: PPi keeps bull sperm cells alive and well for hours after sperms without PPi die

Business Model / Customer Development / Delivering Your Solution Startup company OR licensing to AI industry

partners Product is a semen extender/additive Strong ties with potential customers already

exist Customers have already been educated on PPi

advantages via presentations at industry conventions & in-service training sessions

Tie-in Technologies

Semen sexing

Magnetic-based semen nanopurification

Timed sperm release in female reproductive tract (SpermVital gel)

Competitive Advantage

Components are precisely characterized, high purity, easy to dose, inexpensive, require minimal equipment & quality control

Minimal regulatory requirements in this field Very low cost for commercially sourced PPi (~1 lb for

$120) Very simple manufacturing Product is already backed by high quality peer-

reviewed research publications, cited by others

Intellectual Property / Proprietary Technology

Proprietary IP (US patent issued, international patents pending)

PPi is detectable in competitors’ product by routine lab analysis

Building Management Teams and Advisory Board / Network Development Start-up company in place, registered in MO Alliances & advisory relationships in place

with AI industry, producer organizations, USDA, and beef/cattle farmers in US and abroad (for product development and marketing)

Possible expansion into human infertility treatment field

Financial Projections and Milestones

Projected $525K (direct costs only) for 3 years for additional field testing and R&D

Funds primarily used for beta-testing in field AI trials (completion of MILESTONE #3)

Validation by additional research (continuation of completed MILESTONE #2) will support marketing, increase likelihood of success

Field trials conducted by current collaborators at USDA Agricultural Research Service, Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, and potential future customers in US and abroad (Brazil, Denmark, ongoing)

Thank you

SutovskyP@missouri.edu