NutriQuest is partnering with Modulant Biosciences to develop a breakthrough technology for control of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRSv) and other swine diseases, the company announced on Sept. 23.
Modulant Biosciences, an Indiana-based biotechnology company, has discovered a small molecule capable of combating the PRRSv virus, Nutriquest shared in a release. The partnership will accelerate the development of this drug candidate.
Since the mid-1980s, this virus has been present in the U.S. swine herd and continues to be a major threat to the pork industry. PRRSv costs the U.S. pork industry approximately $1.2 billion annually, according to a recent Iowa State University analysis.
“Our research partnership with NutriQuest will enable us to evaluate the best molecule for treating pigs with PRRSv and give the swine industry a long-awaited tool for controlling the disease,” Tom Campi, Modulant Biosciences CEO says in a release.
In addition, this partnership will drive research into treatments for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) and Swine Influenza virus (SIV), and potential applications for poultry and ruminants, the release says.
“I am excited about this opportunity for NutriQuest on two important levels,” NutriQuest CEO Steve Weiss says in a release. “This partnership not only addresses critical challenges facing producers but also expands the NutriQuest capabilities in regulated drug technology development, paving the way for future high-impact innovations in this space.”
Modulant Biosciences explains that this technology treats diseases by focusing on host cell processes required for viral replication or involvement in chronic diseases. The company says this approach will provide the animal health industry cost-effective therapies to treat or prevent important diseases that are not currently well controlled with existing technologies.
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