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UK biotech bags £2.3M to develop rapid test to combat bovine TB

UK-based biotech company, PBD Biotech has developed a rapid test, which could be a game-changer in treating tuberculosis (TB) in livestock. Now, the company hit the headlines as it bagged £2.3 million in funding to bring its product to market.

Eyes to take its test global

The investment round was pumped by a consortium led by fund managers Mercia and the Foresight Group. Both funds invest through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF). The others to take part in the round are the University of Nottingham, the government’s Future Fund, and private investors including farmers and veterinary practices.

PBD Biotech intends to use the fund to take its Actiphage test for TB through to validation by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). This will help it to be adopted internationally.

Sandy Reid, Investment Director at Mercia, commented: “PBD Biotech’s Actiphage test could radically improve disease control in the dairy sector, offering huge economic benefits for farmers both in the UK and internationally. This investment comes at a key moment in the company’s development as it will allow crucial validation trials to start – a key step to accelerate its progress on to the farms. We are also excited about the potential to further develop the test to detect TB in human blood samples.”

Mark Hammond, CEO of PBD Biotech, said, “It has been shown on-farm that when Actiphage is used within a disease management strategy it is possible to eliminate bovine TB from a herd and maintain a disease-free status. There is a significant international unmet need for a rapid test like Actiphage; with this funding we will be able to perform the validation studies required for regulatory approval and drive commercialisation of the technology.”

Ken Cooper, Managing Director at the British Business Bank, said: “Through a combination of finance from the Future Fund, MEIF and other stakeholders, this investment is another example of how MEIF can unlock additional capital from the other investors. The Fund is committed to driving forward Midlands’ innovation and we look forward to seeing PBD Biotech reaching the next level as it takes its Actiphage® test through to validation.”

Sajeeda Rose, Chief Executive of the D2N2 LEP, said: “I’m pleased to see continued investment by the Midlands Engine Investment Fund into innovative businesses. It is great to see a University of Nottingham spin-out doing well, with the investment allowing PDB Biotech to accelerate its growth, and continue its research and development to transform disease diagnosis and deliver huge economic benefits to farmers globally.”

Effective test for bovine TB

Bovine TB continues to be a major problem in animal welfare, resulting in the slaughter of over 300,000 cattle in Great Britain in the past decade. Also, it is estimated to cost the UK taxpayer £500 million. The disease can spread to other animals including badgers and is thought to cause both TB and Crohn’s disease in humans.

The current skin test uses the animal’s immune response to indicate the level of infection. But it can miss up to 50% of infected cattle. On the other hand, Actiphage test detects the mycobacteria, which cause disease from a blood or milk sample. It is faster and more accurate, letting farmers to identify infected animals at an early stage and remove them from the herd. Actiphage test will find application in rapid screening of cattle prior to movement, quality assurance in dairy products and to differentiate infected animals from those that are vaccinated.

Game changer in tackling bovine TB

Founded by Ben Swift, Berwyn Clarke and Cath Rees in 2014, PBD Biotech is a University of Nottingham spin-out. It is based at the university with an office in Thurston, Suffolk. Currently, the company employs six people and expects to hire over 10 new employees over the next three years.

Recently, Actiphage won the British Veterinary Association Innovation Award 2021. It is touted to be a game-changer in tackling bovine TB. Furthermore, it is estimated that the test has the potential to be adapted for use in humans as well.

The post UK biotech bags £2.3M to develop rapid test to combat bovine TB appeared first on UKTN (UK Tech News).

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