ZIVO Bioscience has announced a strategic partnership with one of the world's leading animal health companies to advance its novel immune-boosting compounds derived from proprietary algal cultures for use in multiple poultry market segments. The collaboration is expected to expand over time to address significant unmet needs in other livestock and companion animal species.
Dual Study Approach Targets Major Poultry Diseases
The partnership encompasses two independent studies designed to validate and expand the use of ZIVO's proprietary actives as immune-enhancing biologics to complement existing poultry vaccination strategies. Both studies will be fully funded by the collaborating company.
The first agreement covers a 42-day study focused on coccidiosis, a parasitic disease that remains a major challenge to poultry producers worldwide. This challenge study is intended to confirm previously demonstrated effects of ZIVO's compound now co-administered with the collaborator's vaccine, and will include collecting tissue and plasma samples to evaluate performance parameters not previously examined. This trial will support the regulatory approval process of the USDA's Center for Veterinary Biologics, as well as validate the commercial business case and lead to a commercial agreement.
Under the second agreement, a study will assess ZIVO's compounds using a model of various viral diseases of significant consequence to the commercial poultry industry. The particular disease to be studied, which has no cure, is characterized by rapid onset and high mortality rates. The virus was selected for its well-established in vivo model, clear clinical endpoints and short study duration, while serving as a representative model for a range of other viral poultry diseases.
University Research Validates Avian Influenza Applications
This viral disease study was prompted by ZIVO's previously reported data showing reduced severity and spread of low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) in treated birds. Recent collaborative research with the University of Delaware has provided additional validation for these applications.
In the University of Delaware study, researchers evaluated the efficacy of several formulations of ZIVO's proprietary active ingredients in mitigating the spread of LPAI virus among poultry. The study assessed and compared the performance of three different ZIVO formulations in both directly challenged and contact-exposed birds.
In the first arm of the study, which involved birds receiving a direct challenge with LPAI, modest positive trends were observed in viral shedding reduction among ZIVO-treated groups compared with untreated controls. While these differences did not reach statistical significance, the findings suggest potential for ZIVO's formulations to lessen disease severity.
The second arm focused on the transmission of the virus from infected birds to naïve birds. Notably, the formulation consisting of a blend of four distinct algal-derived materials demonstrated a slower and less efficient spread of the virus. One bird treated with this combination showed no signs of infection post-exposure, indicating potential protective effects.
Expert Commentary and Future Directions
Brian Ladman, PhD, Principal Investigator at the University of Delaware's Department of Animal and Food Sciences, commented, "Any positive trend observed in these early-stage studies is very encouraging. Delaying transmission, even by a few days, can provide significant benefits to poultry producers by allowing more time to manage high risk or at-risk flocks effectively."
John Payne, Chairman and CEO of ZIVO Bioscience, stated, "These findings resulting from rigorous testing at the University of Delaware reinforce our commitment to developing sustainable, non-antibiotic solutions for the poultry industry. The insights gained from this study show encouraging trends and identifying a superior formulation will be instrumental in guiding our future research and product optimization efforts."
Regulatory and Funding Initiatives
Given the potential impact ZIVO's product can have on mitigating avian influenza, a widespread issue in the nation's large poultry industry, the company has submitted a funding request to the State of Michigan for $5.5 million to further its research. Additionally, ZIVO is applying for a portion of the previously announced $100 million Avian Influenza Poultry Innovation Grand Challenge from the USDA.
Positive outcomes from the viral disease trial will lead to a broader research agreement to pursue additional diseases. Applications for treating viruses represent a significant expansion of the therapeutic range and economic value of ZIVO's novel immune-boosting compounds.
ZIVO plans to continue its collaboration with the University of Delaware to further explore and refine these interventions, including a larger scale project focused on a single formulation in order to determine the reproducibility of the observations from the first two studies.
