Virbac signed an exclusive business development collaboration agreement with and TransAlgae, which aims to shape the future of vaccination in the field of aquaculture with its disruptive microalgae-based oral delivery technology. The companies signed an exclusive collaboration agreement to develop a vaccine based on TransAlgae's breakthrough technology and are engaged together in a long term business relationship.

TransAlgae uses the microalgae as a factory system for drug production and as a novel bio-encapsulation system, enabling safe delivery of the drug or the vaccine to the target animal through its feed. TransAlgae's drug delivery was demonstrated on fish, crustaceans, poultry and mice as a model for mammals.

The company has successfully completed proof-of-concept trials with one of its oral vaccine expressing algal lines. The vaccine expressing algal powder, mixed with fish feed, evoked a specific titer of antibodies towards the viral agent in the orally vaccinated fish, in a manner similar to the injected vaccine. In addition, orally vaccinated fish demonstrated significant protective immunity and survival rate. 

“TransAlgae's algae-based platform replaces the need for vaccination by injections which are time-consuming and expensive, with a novel, cost-effective, green oral delivery technology,” the company’s deputy CEO & CTO, Dr. Ofra Chen told Aquafeed.com.