Government leader, PMV, invests €10 million in farming industry's Animab, partnering with farmers' union.
Animab, a Belgian biotech spin-off from VUB-VIB-UGent, has successfully completed a €10 million Series B funding round to support the commercialization of its groundbreaking oral monoclonal antibody, Nanoprotec®. This first-in-class antibody is designed to combat enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC F4), a major cause of diarrhea in piglets leading to poor growth and high mortality rates.
Nanoprotec is administered through drinking water, offering immediate, antibody-mediated immunity and reducing the need for traditional antibiotics in livestock. Following the completion of clinical trials, Animab is preparing to submit Nanoprotec for regulatory approval to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) before the end of 2025, with market launch anticipated in Europe by the end of 2026. The company has also secured an exclusive distribution agreement with Huvepharma, reinforcing its commercialization strategy in the European market.
How Nanoprotec Works
Nanoprotec works by preventing ETEC F4 bacteria from adhering to the piglet's intestinal wall, thus neutralizing the pathogen and preventing infection without the use of antibiotics. This mechanism offers a scalable, antibiotic-free alternative to current disease control methods, which often rely heavily on antimicrobials.
The Impact on Antibiotic-Free Livestock Solutions
The development and anticipated launch of Nanoprotec represent a significant step towards reducing antibiotic use in livestock production. By providing effective, immediate protection against a leading cause of gastrointestinal disease in piglets, Nanoprotec could help mitigate the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is projected to cause millions of deaths annually by 2050 if left unchecked.
Experts and investors highlight that such innovations are urgently needed to enable sustainable, antibiotic-free farming practices, aligning with both European policy goals and global public health priorities. Animab’s leadership and investors express confidence that this technology could help the livestock sector reach break-even without antibiotics by the end of 2027.
Key Details
- Developer: Animab (Belgium)
- Target: ETEC F4 in piglets
- Delivery: Oral (drinking water)
- Mechanism: Prevents bacterial adhesion to gut, neutralizes pathogen
- Regulatory Status: EMA submission planned end of 2025; launch expected end of 2026
- Funding: €10M Series B (July 2025)
- Key Partners: Huvepharma (distribution), AIF, PMV, QBIC III, Anacura
- Impact: Antibiotic-free alternative, reduces AMR, supports sustainable livestock farming
Conclusion
Nanoprotec is poised to be a game-changing, antibiotic-free solution for gastrointestinal infections in pigs, with regulatory approval and market launch in Europe on the near horizon. Its success could significantly reduce reliance on antibiotics in livestock, supporting both animal welfare and global efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.
- In the development finance sector, Animab, a Belgian biotech company, secured €10 million in Series B funding for the commercialization of their innovative oral monoclonal antibody, Nanoprotec.
- Nanoprotec's blended finance strategy includes private equity and venture capital funding from key partners such as AIF, PMV, QBIC III, and Anacura.
- The technology's success in providing antibiotic-free protection against leading causes of gastrointestinal diseases in livestock, like ETEC F4 in piglets, contributes to financial inclusion by enabling sustainable, antibiotic-free farming practices.
- Leveraging science and technology, Nanoprotec's health-and-wellness solution addresses global concerns in the health sector, particularly the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), serving as a scalable alternative to current disease control methods.
