Merck leads funding round for poultry vaccine technology

Applied LifeSciences & Systems has secured $7 million in series B funding that will be used to commercialize their poultry vaccine delivery system, with financing co-led by Merck Animal Health and Mountain Group Partners.

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Applied LifeSciences & Systems (ALSS) has secured $7 million in series B funding that will be used to commercialize their poultry vaccine delivery system, with financing co-led by Merck Animal Health and Mountain Group Partners.

The ALSS system can individually vaccinate up to 100,000 chicks per hour against coccidiosis, infectious bronchitis and Newcastle disease. The technology platform, which incorporates high-speed imaging, artificial intelligence, robotics and microfluidics, was one of the innovations highlighted at the 2020 Virtual Poultry Tech Summit

"We are delighted with the progress by the ALSS team," said Stephen Murray, B.V.Sc., executive director, Merck Animal Health Ventures. 

"Merck Animal Health's investments in early-stage technology have the potential to deliver meaningful innovation to our customers, which complements our own portfolio of medicines, vaccines and technology services. Leveraging our knowledge of poultry vaccination alongside ALSS is enabling their breakthrough technology to significantly increase vaccination rates and enhance poultry production, management and health outcomes."  

"We are very pleased with the progress that ALSS has made toward commercialization of its disruptive vaccine delivery technology. ALSS's technology will significantly improve vaccination efficiency and provide a great tool to producers. We look forward to working with ALSS as they take this next step forward into commercialization" said Rob Readnour, Managing Director at Mountain Group Partners, an investor group dedicated to the life sciences, animal health and technology sectors.

Oval Park Capital, an early-stage investment firm, also participated in the funding round.

"We are delighted to continue supporting ALSS as it transitions into the commercialization and growth phases, and we're excited to watch the transformative impact of ALSS' technology on global protein production in the coming years,” said Justin Wright-Eakes, Managing Partner at Oval Park Capital.

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