Genvax Technologies Takes New Step Toward USDA Approval of its Vaccines
by Jennifer Shike, Bovine Veterinarian
Genvax Technologies, a startup bringing advances in RNA vaccine production to animal health, announced recently that it has closed its Series Seed Plus funding. This funding will accelerate the company’s path toward USDA approval of its vaccines, enabling rapid response to foreign animal disease outbreaks and improving livestock health and profitability, the company said in a release.
Genvax was founded in February 2021 by entrepreneurs Joel Harris and Hank Harris, DVM. In August 2022, the company closed a seed financing round worth $6.5 million in financial and research support led by United Animal Health.
New Hire
To help move the company forward, Genvax recently named Lucas Huntimer as chief scientific officer to lead innovation. He brings decades of expertise in vaccine development, regulatory strategy and sustainable solutions through leadership roles at Novartis, Elanco, and Rumin8. Huntimer received his PhD in immunobiology from Iowa State University, and has been focusing on advancing vaccine efficacy and managing complex research and development portfolios.
“We are thrilled that Lucas has joined our expanding team,” Joel Harris, CEO and co-founder of Genvax Technologies, said in a release. “His leadership will be instrumental in achieving licensure for our first product and manufacturing facility, while shaping the future of this novel RNA technology in animal health.”
Innovations in Technology
Genvax’s proprietary RNA platform enables the rapid development of herd- or flock-specific vaccines matched precisely to the variant strain circulating in animal production operations, the company said in a release.
“By inserting a specific transgene or ‘gene of interest’ (GOI) matched to the variant strain into the platform, the RNA generates an antibody response without requiring the whole pathogen,” the release said.
With the threat of foreign animal diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), African swine fever (ASF), and evolving variants of swine influenza, the industry needs groundbreaking solutions now, Harris said in a release. “For HPAI, our innovative vaccine could play a pivotal role in eradication efforts and strengthen global trade relationships,” he said.
Huntimer believes Genvax’s cutting-edge saRNA vaccine platform represents a breakthrough in addressing emerging animal diseases. “Our rapid development capability allows us to pivot quickly in response to new threats, delivering targeted vaccines with unprecedented speed and precision,” Huntimer added. “This technology will transform how we protect animal health and mitigate the risks posed by evolving pathogens.”
Pioneering Growth
United Animal Health said their company has been a key driver of Genvax’s mission to revolutionize animal health and led the financing with the aim of commercializing the technology in livestock. “At United Animal Health, we are committed to pioneering advancements that safeguard the future of animal agriculture,” Doug Webel, president and CEO of United Animal Health, said in a release. “Genvax’s RNA vaccines exemplify the type of innovation that will redefine health outcomes and strengthen global food security. By leveraging our research farms and expertise, we are well-positioned to refine and commercialize these groundbreaking solutions.”
United Animal Health led the financing with support from Johnsonville Ventures, Iowa Farm Bureau’s Rural Vitality Funds, Iowa Corn Growers Association, and members of Ag Startup Engine. According to a release, this coalition of investors spans the animal health, nutrition, feed, and food processing industries, underscoring the transformative potential of Genvax’s technology in addressing emerging threats to the food supply chain.
Preliminary UNL Beef Research Shows No Performance Loss Associated with Varying Distillers Grains in Cattle Finishing Diets
by Maria Tibbetts, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Preliminary research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) shows varying distillers grains in a cattle finishing diet may not have a negative effect on cattle performance. Ethanol byproducts — distillers grains — have changed how some feedyards finish cattle. However, the price and supply varies by season and ethanol demand. Feeders and researchers assumed disruptions in the supply of distillers’ grains would affect the performance of cattle accustomed to the feed source in a feedlot.
A recent study at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln looked to quantify how much the performance is affected by varying the amount of distillers grains in a finishing diet.
It turns out that according to the research so far, it doesn’t. “Ever since COVID, the supply and deliveries of distillers grains has been inconsistent,” said Paige Madison, a master’s student in the UNL ruminant nutrition department who worked on this research project. “We wanted to see what it would do to the cattle if producers ran out of distillers and had to pull it out of the diet and then a week later, they got a delivery and could put the full inclusion back into the diet.”
When the diet is not consistent, cattle can experience ruminal acidosis, which is when the pH of the rumen becomes low, said Jim MacDonald, UNL professor of animal science and principal investigator on this research project. “Acidosis may cause cattle to go off feed, reducing intakes and subsequently causing a reduction in average daily gain and hot carcass weight,” MacDonald said. “Rumen acidosis contributes to economic losses from reduced hot carcass weight, increased liver abscesses, and increased death loss. The economic impact of liver abscesses alone is estimated to be $41.6 million annually.”
Distillers grains are used in feedlot diets as a source of energy and protein. Distillers can be wet, dry, or modified based on the moisture of the byproduct. This research project used modified distillers grains, which have a moisture level of about 48%.
Research on variable amounts of distillers grains included in the feedlot diet can help producers manage feedlot diets for maximum efficiency and cattle health. “The current strategy to manage variable supply is to limit the inclusion of distillers grains,” MacDonald said. “We have seen the inclusion of distillers grains reduced significantly over the past decade due to an increase in the price relative to corn, a perceived reduction in the feeding value of the distillers grains, and variable supply.”
The most recent research project was phase two of a UNL study that looked at varying distillers in diets with two inclusions of distillers grains. Phase one of the study looked at a ration that included distillers only at 25% of the ration. In this study the distillers grains were replaced with a blend of high-moisture corn and dry-rolled corn. Since the distillers grains also provide protein, urea was added to the control diet so the study was evaluating only the feed source to ensure cattle were not deficient in protein when the distillers grains were removed. The results of this study showed no significant differences in the performance — intake, average daily gain, and feed efficiency — between the constant versus variable inclusion groups of cattle.
Phase two focused on constant versus variable distillers at 10% and 25% of the diet, with a control of corn with no distillers. The researchers were surprised to find there was still no significant difference between the constant versus variable inclusion groups.
The research was conducted at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead, Nebraska, and is funded by the Nebraska Corn Board. This winter UNL researchers started a third phase of the variable distillers grains research at UNL’s recently opened Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center using Hokofarm RIC2Discover technology feed bunks, which measure the pattern and amount of feed consumption by individual animals.
Instead of using just cattle performance to determine if there are differences between the constant and variable groups, phase three is also using pH probes in the rumen to detect rumen acidosis that may not result in visible symptoms.
“While we would never recommend that anyone should make sudden dramatic changes to their finishing diets, these data do provide some peace of mind that if supply disruptions or sudden changes in price occur, there is flexibility in making diet changes without negatively impacting animal performance,” MacDonald said.
Preventing a One Health Crisis: How Science is Informing New Policy
by Jennifer Shike, Bovine Veterinarian
The current One Health crisis brought about by the challenge of viral diseases and the need to improve the level of biosecurity practiced across species has spurred the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to take a big step forward to protect animals.
On January 10, the House of Delegates of the AVMA voted unanimously to approve a resolution entitled “Biosecurity.” This resolution, authored by Scott Dee, DVM, and sponsored by the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, is based on scientific research documenting the ability of evidence-based biosecurity programs to control porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRSV) infection across a large-scale pork production system for an extended period.
“Globally, herds, flocks, companion animals, and exotic wildlife populations are at risk of infection by multiple agents, including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and African swine fever virus (ASFV) in pigs, along with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) infection in multiple avian and mammalian species, resulting in a documented spillover into humans,” explains Dee. “Therefore, to protect the health and welfare of all that are at risk, veterinarians must practice biosecurity that is science-based, as historically, the practice of animal biosecurity has been long on marketing and short on science, resulting in mixed messages to animal owners and the public.”
Dee says the research not only proved the efficacy of sciencebased biosecurity, but also raised the question of how this new information could be leveraged beyond pigs and PRRSV for the benefit of “all people short and tall, and all creatures great and small.”
Approval of the resolution led to an AVMA policy on biosecurity, as follows:
• Diseases of animals can be transmitted in many ways, including direct and indirect oral, airborne, and vectorborne routes of transmission.
• Because of these many risks, prevention of disease transmission through the practice of biosecurity is critical to protecting the health and welfare of all species.
• To be effective, biosecurity programs should be based on scientific evidence and current best practice(s) as applicable.
• The AVMA supports the protection of the health and welfare of animals through the practice of science-based biosecurity and encourages its members to become familiar with this approach.
“Since an AVMA policy on biosecurity did not previously exist, this was a logical first step to take,” Dee says. “As mentioned in the policy, all veterinarians across all species should become familiar with the science of biosecurity, follow an evidence-based approach to practice it in the field, and strive to bring answers to existing questions.”
Using scientific information from pivotal publications to write policy for the benefit of the profession is a novel approach when dealing with critical matters that affect animal and human health, Dee explains. .
Walton – Berry Graduate Student Support Grant
Purpose:
To aid in the professional development, success, and experiences of young animal scientists at the regional and national level, by providing support for graduate study. The recipient shall mentor a Masters or PhD student in Animal Science. The recipient mentor and student shall provide a report for publication in both SimTalk and theRegister.
The Committee requests that faculty mentors apply for the grant to assist in planning and conducting research, as well as graduate student recruitment and travel. The Committee will award funds to the top two qualifying programs: $5,000 to the top pick and $3,000 to the second choice.
This grant is available to all agriculture disciplines; however, focus will be on the genetic improvement of livestock.
Entry Deadline: April 15, 2025, with announcement by May 15, 2025.
To apply for this award:
Faculty members must submit an application explaining the particular area of study and how these funds will be used. The application will include a description of the research, along with supporting documentation from the Department Administration.
This grant will be made payable as a gift to the research account of the selected faculty member.
Entry Deadline: April 15
