AMES, Iowa – An Ames animal vaccine company startup recently announced it has secured $6.5 million in series seed funding, moving it one step closer toward USDA and international regulatory approval of its vaccines in anticipation of any foreign animal disease outbreak.

“The threat posed to producers and consumers by foreign animal diseases like African swine fever and constantly mutating variants of swine influenza is extraordinary,” said Joel Harris, Genvax Technologies CEO and co-founder. “The goal is to develop a vaccine that matches 100 percent to the specific strain when a disease outbreak occurs.”

According to Harris, African swine fever can cause up to 100 percent mortality in pigs and could decimate the income of U.S. pork producers and force layoffs, significantly reducing rural employment.

He said economic models estimate the worst case scenario of an African swine fever outbreak in the U.S. would result in a $50 billion loss to the domestic pig industry.

“For African swine fever, Genvax’s vaccine could be an important tool for eradication efforts and may alleviate any concerns with trading partners abroad,” he added. “In addition, the financial and public support of multiple stakeholders like United Animal Health and others in the food industry is a huge validation of this technology’s promise.”

Founded in February 2021 by animal health serial entrepreneurs Joel Harris and Hank Harris, DVM, the company’s proprietary saRNA (genetically engineered molecules that trigger the immune system to make antibodies that can successfully attack and destroy an invading virus) platform allows for rapid development of herd or flock-specific vaccines matched 100 percent to the variant strain circulating in an animal-production operation.

Harris said by inserting a specific transgene or ‘gene of interest’ matched to the variant strain into the platform, the saRNA can generate an antibody response without requiring the whole pathogen.

In April 2022, Genvax announced it had received more than $145,000 in grant funding from the USDA-Agricultural Research Services Plum Island Animal Disease Center and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research to develop a saRNA vaccine for African Swine Fever virus.

In addition to the grant funding from the USDA and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, Harris said the company raised approximately $1.9 million in a pre-seed round of funding.

He said United Animal Health led the financing with participation from Johnsonville Ventures, the Iowa Corn Growers Assoc., Summit Agricultural Group, and Ag Startup Engine.

Scott Holmstrom, United Animal Health senior vice president, research and development, said this investor coalition represents animal health, nutrition, feed, meat packers, and consumer products in the fight against existing and emerging threats to the food supply chain.

“United Animal Health sees Genvax and self-amplifying mRNA vaccines as the cutting edge of technology to protect the industries we serve,” he said. “These technologies are critical to food security and protein availability. We are excited to be offering our innovation and research farms to work carefully with Genvax in developing these future products.”

Kevin Ladwig, Johnsonville Ventures managing director, said, “We’ve been impressed with Joel Harris and the Genvax team, in addition to the novel technology they are developing. As a stakeholder in the pork industry, we feel this is a necessary step in helping prepare for and protect against African Swine Fever and other emerging diseases.”

Pete Brecht, Iowa Corn Promotion Board director, said the board recognizes the importance of protecting the livestock industry against emerging diseases such as African swine fever.

“Iowa is a leader in both corn and pork production,” he said. “We know the value of investing in the protection of our animals and the livelihoods of our farmers across the state. Genvax has a novel approach and an experienced management team to address such an important issue for agriculture.”

When asked what upcoming projects the company is working on, Harris said, “Currently, Genvax is focused on developing vaccines targeted against African swine influenza virus. Genvax hopes to have commercialized vaccines in the market in three to five years.”