German biotech AquaNab secures funding to tackle sea lice with nanoantibodies

Hamburg-based biotech startup AquaNab has secured funding from Nordic Foodtech VC to develop a novel approach to tackling sea lice in aquaculture. Dr Ruth Tamara Montero, Dr Alejandro Rojas Fernandez and Gunnar Johildarson founded the company, which aims to create precision immunotherapies for aquaculture, beginning with sea lice, a major issue in salmon farming.

Sea lice cost the global aquaculture industry approximately $4 billion annually, through treatment expenses, production losses, and fish mortality. Current chemical and mechanical delousing methods raise concerns over fish welfare and environmental impact, driving demand for alternative solutions.

AquNab's solution revolves around the development of precision nanoantibodies, or AquaNabs, derived from alpaca-derived proteins. These nanoantibodies can be administered to fish through feed and cross the intestinal barrier, entering the bloodstream to target the parasite, offering a potentially less invasive approach to disease prevention.

AquNab CEO Dr Tamara Montero emphasized the importance of improving animal welfare and fish health in sustainable aquaculture, highlighting the need for more effective tools to protect fish and their producers. The company's first product will target Atlantic salmon, while the platform is designed to be adapted to various diseases impacting other aquaculture species.

With the investment from Nordic Foodtech VC, AquaNab will further develop its technology, working towards proof of concept, expanding collaborations with salmon producers, feed manufacturers, and animal health companies, and preparing for the commercialization of its first products.