- Nanoantibody technology can be delivered through feed and enter the fish bloodstream.
- Solution could eventually target bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases.
- Recent funding will be used to complete efficacy testing as AquaNab works toward commercialisation.
Sea lice are estimated to cost the global salmon industry billions of dollars annually through treatment expenses, reduced growth rates and fish mortality.
Existing control strategies often rely on chemical, mechanical or biological approaches, all of which present varying cost, welfare and sustainability challenges.
“Sea lice is a big problem for the industry worldwide. Since I started working with fish in 2007, I’ve been aware of this need. The industry needs more tools that are effective and competitively priced,” said Dr Ruth Tamara Montero, CEO of Hamburg-based AquaNab.
In search of a solution, Montero sought out Dr Alejandro Rojas Fernandez, a researcher with extensive experience developing nanoantibody-based therapies for human health applications, including hantavirus and COVID-19.
Based on their belief that nanoantibody treatment would be hugely beneficial to the aquaculture industry, they co-founded AquaNab.
The camelid connection
As their name suggests, nanoantibodies are significantly smaller than conventional antibodies, giving them significant advantages.
“Because of their size, they can penetrate small pockets or places that conventional antibodies cannot reach. They are also very stable, robust and resilient under different conditions,” Montero told AgNavigator.
She further explained that nanoantibodies are naturally produced by camelids such as alpacas.
To generate nanoantibodies, the company exposes alpacas to proteins from sea lice, which triggers the animals’ immune systems to produce antibodies and nanoantibodies against them.
Blood samples are then collected, and the resulting molecules are subsequently sequenced and produced in bioreactors.
A seamless solution
The company, which was founded this year, accomplished one of its most significant objectives by proving the antibodies could be delivered orally, cross the fish’s intestinal barrier, and enter its bloodstream.
This allowed it to incorporate the nanoantibodies into feed pellets, making it easy for producers to deploy.
This represented one of the company’s most important proof-of-concept milestones, said Montero.
“We delivered them orally and then saw the nanoantibodies active in the blood circulation. That was massive for us because it was already around 80% of what we wanted to achieve.”
The approach could be used both preventatively and therapeutically.
Platform of potential
AquaNab recently secured backing from Finnish investor Nordic Foodtech VC to advance development of its technology.
The funding will primarily support efficacy testing, which Montero described as the final major step in the company’s proof-of-concept programme.
The company is also in discussions with salmon producers about potential collaborations and future field trials.
Commercialisation remains several years away. Montero said AquaNab is targeting a roughly five-year timeline, with regulatory approval expected to be one of the biggest challenges.
At the moment, the company is aiming to tackle the problem of sea lice in salmon farming, one of the largest economic opportunities in aquaculture.
However, Montero described AquaNab as a platform technology rather than a single solution.
“What we created is a platform that we can use for different pathogens. This is the beginning because we are tackling the biggest and most economically attractive problem. But we can definitely use it not only for parasites but also for other pathogens such as bacteria or viruses. Sea lice is just the start. We want to give producers better tools that protect fish health, support animal welfare and help secure the future of food.”
Beyond salmon, the company sees opportunities across multiple species and geographies.
Montero highlighted Asia as a market of particular interest, given its importance as both a seafood-consuming region and a major aquaculture producer.
The company is also exploring opportunities within recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), which Montero believes will become increasingly important as the sector evolves.
“We already have a couple of products in the pipeline to support production in RAS systems. We cannot be blind. We need a long-term vision for the company.”
