Pebble Labs, the US-based biotech company that claims to have found a potential solution to two of the shrimp farming industry's biggest problems, has signed a deal with one of the world's largest veterinarian phramaceutial groups to co-develop and commercialize its technology.
French group Virbac, already a leading animal health player in aquaculture, will work with Pebble Labs to bring RNA-based technologies to global large-scale aquaculture and focus on a solution for white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), a disease that can cause mortalities in a shrimp crop of up to 50 percent and costs the industry around $3.5 billion worldwide each year.
Currently the aquaculture industry relies heavily on probiotics, synthetic chemicals and antibiotics to fight the diseases that can be devastating to shrimp farms worldwide. The Pebble Labs Directed Biotics technology harnesses an animal’s natural immunity with a bacteria and redirects it to suppress WSSV, the company said.
“Pebble Labs has the first sustainable technology to safely and effectively address the viral pathogens we are facing in large-scale aquaculture,” said Virbac Direcor of Aquaculture Pierre Henning.
“Working with Pebble Labs to share their solution with farmers is a high priority for our aquaculture division this year, and we are committed to moving this project along quickly.”
Terms of the agreement include executing feasibility studies to validate Pebble Labs' technology, solution development plans, regulatory clearance and approval, and discussion of future products and commercial applications in addition to treating White Spot Syndrome Virus in aquaculture.
“Pebble Labs is looking forward to seeing Directed Biotics technology in the pond this year,” said Pebble Labs President David Morgan. “This agreement with Virbac moves our revolutionary products toward the market which will reduce the need for antibiotics in food production and improve food security worldwide."
