Madison, WI – Pan Genome Systems Inc. (Renamed Vireo Vaccines International) of Madison, Wisconsin confirmed today that it has received a Phase II funding award from the U.S. Small Business Administration Innovation Research Agency (SBIR). The additional funding will support the continued work of Pan Genome Systems to develop its novel animal health vaccine and diagnostic products aimed at taking up the fight against Johne’s Disease in animal herds.
The SBIR Phase II award is a continuation of SBIR support for Pan Genome’s innovative work in this area. This award also emphasizes the value and importance of combating this costly disease, and the company’s role in developing an effective solution to this problem as quickly as possible.
“This is an endemic and extremely costly disease, and one that is grossly under-addressed in industry,” said Dr. Adel Talaat, the founder and CEO of Pan Genome Systems.
Johne’s disease is an insidious manifestation of the infection with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) that affects the small intestine of the animal, leading to chronic diarrhea, emaciation, and significant loss of milk yield. The disease attacks dairy cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants, and it is contagious, chronic and eventually fatal.
Herd-level prevalence of Johne’s Disease in the U.S. has increased significantly in the last 20 years. According to a 2013 study published in the Journal of Preventative Veterinary Medicine, it affects more than 91% of U.S. dairy herds, and costs the industry more than $500 million per year in lost milk yields, additional disease control requirements, and unnecessary stock losses.
The organism that causes Johne’s Disease is not currently known to cause disease in humans, but it has been detected in humans with Crohn’s Diseaseand symptoms of Crohn’s Disease in humans are similar to the signs of Johne’s Disease in ruminants. However, evidence of the link between MAP and Crohn’s Disease, particularly through the food chain, remains controversial.
PGS’s work centers on the active development of a live-attenuated vaccine for Johne’s Disease, and an associated diagnostic tool. Dr. Talaat explains, “We’re racing to develop a better way to identify and control the bacteria that cause the disease, and stop this disease from crippling our dairy industry. Farmers can’t control the impacts of a significant downturn in the economy, but Johne’s disease is something they should be able to control. This disease is continuing to cost the industry millions of dollars that we can’t afford. It’s just not right. At Pan Genome Systems, we want urgently to get some effective tools in place so that farmers can get back to doing what they do best, without the millstone of Johne’s disease around their necks.”
PGS’s proprietary technology is the result of research leading to the discovery of genes critical to the growth of the disease by Dr. Talaat. Dr. Talaat is a recognized industry leader in Johne’s Disease research and his work focuses on the bacteriology and immunology of Johne’s Disease and Tuberculosis in particular.
The Phase II funding received from the SBIR award will support the next stage of testing and development of Pan Genome’s vaccine and diagnostics as the company moves toward commercial launch of its products.
Johnes Disease Vaccines
Madison, WI – Pan Genome Systems Inc. (Renamed Vireo Vaccines International) of Madison, Wisconsin confirmed today that it has received a Phase II funding award from the U.S. Small Business Administration Innovation Research Agency (SBIR). The additional funding will support the continued work of Pan Genome Systems to develop its novel animal health vaccine and diagnostic products aimed at taking up the fight against Johne’s Disease in animal herds.
The SBIR Phase II award is a continuation of SBIR support for Pan Genome’s innovative work in this area. This award also emphasizes the value and importance of combating this costly disease, and the company’s role in developing an effective solution to this problem as quickly as possible.
“This is an endemic and extremely costly disease, and one that is grossly under-addressed in industry,” said Dr. Adel Talaat, the founder and CEO of Pan Genome Systems.
Johne’s disease is an insidious manifestation of the infection with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) that affects the small intestine of the animal, leading to chronic diarrhea, emaciation, and significant loss of milk yield. The disease attacks dairy cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants, and it is contagious, chronic and eventually fatal.
Herd-level prevalence of Johne’s Disease in the U.S. has increased significantly in the last 20 years. According to a 2013 study published in the Journal of Preventative Veterinary Medicine, it affects more than 91% of U.S. dairy herds, and costs the industry more than $500 million per year in lost milk yields, additional disease control requirements, and unnecessary stock losses.
The organism that causes Johne’s Disease is not currently known to cause disease in humans, but it has been detected in humans with Crohn’s Diseaseand symptoms of Crohn’s Disease in humans are similar to the signs of Johne’s Disease in ruminants. However, evidence of the link between MAP and Crohn’s Disease, particularly through the food chain, remains controversial.
PGS’s work centers on the active development of a live-attenuated vaccine for Johne’s Disease, and an associated diagnostic tool. Dr. Talaat explains, “We’re racing to develop a better way to identify and control the bacteria that cause the disease, and stop this disease from crippling our dairy industry. Farmers can’t control the impacts of a significant downturn in the economy, but Johne’s disease is something they should be able to control. This disease is continuing to cost the industry millions of dollars that we can’t afford. It’s just not right. At Pan Genome Systems, we want urgently to get some effective tools in place so that farmers can get back to doing what they do best, without the millstone of Johne’s disease around their necks.”
PGS’s proprietary technology is the result of research leading to the discovery of genes critical to the growth of the disease by Dr. Talaat. Dr. Talaat is a recognized industry leader in Johne’s Disease research and his work focuses on the bacteriology and immunology of Johne’s Disease and Tuberculosis in particular.
The Phase II funding received from the SBIR award will support the next stage of testing and development of Pan Genome’s vaccine and diagnostics as the company moves toward commercial launch of its products.
Johnes Disease Vaccines
Advanced Vaccines for paratuberculosis control in cattle
Next-generation protection for poultry health
Strategic partnership testing with appropriate agreements
Targeted solutions for IBV in poultry populations
Madison, WI – Pan Genome Systems Inc. (Renamed Vireo Vaccines International) of Madison, Wisconsin confirmed today that it has received a Phase II funding award from the U.S. Small Business Administration Innovation Research Agency (SBIR). The additional funding will support the continued work of Pan Genome Systems to develop its novel animal health vaccine and diagnostic products aimed at taking up the fight against Johne’s Disease in animal herds.
The SBIR Phase II award is a continuation of SBIR support for Pan Genome’s innovative work in this area. This award also emphasizes the value and importance of combating this costly disease, and the company’s role in developing an effective solution to this problem as quickly as possible.
“This is an endemic and extremely costly disease, and one that is grossly under-addressed in industry,” said Dr. Adel Talaat, the founder and CEO of Pan Genome Systems.
Johne’s disease is an insidious manifestation of the infection with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) that affects the small intestine of the animal, leading to chronic diarrhea, emaciation, and significant loss of milk yield. The disease attacks dairy cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants, and it is contagious, chronic and eventually fatal.
Herd-level prevalence of Johne’s Disease in the U.S. has increased significantly in the last 20 years. According to a 2013 study published in the Journal of Preventative Veterinary Medicine, it affects more than 91% of U.S. dairy herds, and costs the industry more than $500 million per year in lost milk yields, additional disease control requirements, and unnecessary stock losses.
The organism that causes Johne’s Disease is not currently known to cause disease in humans, but it has been detected in humans with Crohn’s Diseaseand symptoms of Crohn’s Disease in humans are similar to the signs of Johne’s Disease in ruminants. However, evidence of the link between MAP and Crohn’s Disease, particularly through the food chain, remains controversial.
PGS’s work centers on the active development of a live-attenuated vaccine for Johne’s Disease, and an associated diagnostic tool. Dr. Talaat explains, “We’re racing to develop a better way to identify and control the bacteria that cause the disease, and stop this disease from crippling our dairy industry. Farmers can’t control the impacts of a significant downturn in the economy, but Johne’s disease is something they should be able to control. This disease is continuing to cost the industry millions of dollars that we can’t afford. It’s just not right. At Pan Genome Systems, we want urgently to get some effective tools in place so that farmers can get back to doing what they do best, without the millstone of Johne’s disease around their necks.”
PGS’s proprietary technology is the result of research leading to the discovery of genes critical to the growth of the disease by Dr. Talaat. Dr. Talaat is a recognized industry leader in Johne’s Disease research and his work focuses on the bacteriology and immunology of Johne’s Disease and Tuberculosis in particular.
The Phase II funding received from the SBIR award will support the next stage of testing and development of Pan Genome’s vaccine and diagnostics as the company moves toward commercial launch of its products.
Johnes Disease Vaccines