In the wake of COVID-19, global investment in human vaccines has surged, but the animal health sector hasn’t received the same level of attention. This gap is leaving farmers to grapple with costly inefficiencies and unmet needs.
In particular, the industry is falling behind in producing effective vaccines for diseases that require a strong cell-based immune response, such as Salmonella, or where long-term immunity is needed, ultimately reducing the need for frequent booster shots. Existing vaccine technologies often miss the mark in both effectiveness and affordability for livestock.
Enter EVVE (Enhanced Veterinary Vaccine Enterprises), a Sprout Accelerator venture in the Spring24 cohort, poised to drive necessary change in the agriculture sector.
EVVE uses innovative technology to design efficient, highly tolerable livestock vaccines. This technology focuses on hard-to-treat diseases at a low cost, ensuring that livestock owners can access effective vaccines that are better for their animals.
Meet the founder, Jeremy Jones, a former scientist with a robust biotechnology and human health history. Jeremy is also an experienced entrepreneur having led and advised a number of start up ventures. His collaborative spirit, ambition and enthusiasm for bringing this product to the market is contagious.
Whilst a Senior Commercialisation Manager at Wellington UniVentures, Jeremy watched the talented team of chemists at Victoria University, research and develop the underlying technology behind this platform for over five years. The team, Dr. Bridget Stocker, Dr. Mattie Timmer and Dr. Emma Dangerfield, continues to support Jeremy and serve as trusted advisors for the venture.
"The whole research team behind this product is impressive," Jeremy says. "When working on a project like this, it's essential to have people who are genuinely excited about both the research and the technology's market potential."
By leveraging new insights into a recently discovered immune pathway, along with their collaboration with Dr. Neil Wedlock’s sheep vaccine team at AgResearch, EVVE’s technology is able to create low-cost, effective vaccines. These vaccines generate a strong cell-based immune response, which is especially important for fighting tough diseases like salmonella.
With successful trials in sheep and pigs under their belt, the team gained the confidence to move forward in their market research. Based on the information gathered from this research, the team shifted their business model from early technology partnership to vaccine product development and licensing.
This wasn’t the only shift. Though the technology showed great promise in the lab, it almost didn’t move forward as the original cost to produce each dose—16 to 20 cents—was too high and not economically feasible for livestock markets. However, thanks to the team's creativity and hard work, they managed to significantly lower the manufacturing costs, reigniting their hopes of becoming a global leader in next-generation livestock vaccines.
With the cost challenge behind them, the focus now shifts to scaling the company and navigating the hurdles that often trip up New Zealand businesses aiming for international success. Jeremy is well aware of the risks, particularly the danger of becoming a "zombie company"—one that limps along on limited revenues and drip-fed investment without ever achieving its full potential.
To avoid this fate, Jeremy has outlined clear next steps. Strengthening partnerships with multinational animal health companies, hiring a technical lead to drive growth, and securing seed capital to fuel the venture's expansion are top priorities.
This is where Sprout Accelerator comes in, playing a crucial role in turning his vision into reality.
"I'm very comfortable in my space - human health and biotech. It's my comfort zone. However, this is my first foray into animal health. I don't know what I don't know. So, the connections, especially the domain expert advisors and investors in the Sprout ecosystem, will be critical to our success.”
With a dedicated team, a clear plan, and the support of the Sprout Accelerator, EVVE is set to make a significant impact in the future of the livestock industry.
As they continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead, the potential for enhanced animal health and welfare is not just a goal—it's an opportunity to leave this planet better than they found it for generations to come.