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Sperm Booster - Semen Additive for Livestock Artificial Insemination
Peter Sutovsky, PhD, Dr.h.c.
Sutovsky Lab
Fertilization Male infertility in humans Male fertility in livestock
species Assisted Reproductive
Technologies/Therapy (ART)
Improvement of Artificial Insemination (AI)
Tech Transfer & Startups
Artificial Insemination (AI)
Increases reproductive efficiency
Limits spread of infectious diseases
Disseminates genes of bulls/boars with superior production traits
Unmet Market Need
Annual semen sales: $1.5 billion (dairy) $250 million (beef) $600 million (swine)
Mature industry, with two hot spots: Sexed semen Higher fertility
Need to maximize output of semen from bulls/boars with valuable genetic traits
Problem
Poor semen quality
High sperm number needed per AI dose
Poor sperm survival during processing (freezing), storage & distribution reduces pregnancy rates after AI
Solution
Simple, cheap additive that increases sperm survival during semen processing and storage, and after sexing, freezing and thawing
Principle – like adding an electric motor to a gasoline engine in a hybrid sport car
Sperm cells produce ATP to fuel their movement, necessary for fertilization
External ATP can be added to improve sperm movement and but is prohibitively expensive and unstable
We discovered that sperm can utilize inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) to supplement ATP as energy source
Contrary to ATP, PPi is very stable and cheap
Value Proposition
Increased bull/boar fertility translates into significant additional income to cattlemen, swine industry and AI semen distributors
We will develop two fertility related products: Additive for bull semen Extender for boar semen
Milestones
1. PROOF OF THE CONCEPT – evaluation of sperm viability and energy production with/without PPi addition: COMPLETED
2. VALIDATION RESEARCH - test tube fertilization with PPi supplemented stored semen: COMPLETED
3. FIELD TRIALS - artificial insemination with PPi-supplemented semen - ONGOING
PPi Extends The Fertilizing Ability of Boar Sperm Cells Stored for 4 Days at Room
Temperature.Yi et al., 2012, PLoS One
7(4):e34524
Field Trials: PPi keeps bull sperm cells alive and well for hours after sperms without PPi die
Business Model / Customer Development / Delivering Your Solution Startup company OR licensing to AI industry
partners Product is a semen extender/additive Strong ties with potential customers already
exist Customers have already been educated on PPi
advantages via presentations at industry conventions & in-service training sessions
Tie-in Technologies
Semen sexing
Magnetic-based semen nanopurification
Timed sperm release in female reproductive tract (SpermVital gel)
Competitive Advantage
Components are precisely characterized, high purity, easy to dose, inexpensive, require minimal equipment & quality control
Minimal regulatory requirements in this field Very low cost for commercially sourced PPi (~1 lb for
$120) Very simple manufacturing Product is already backed by high quality peer-
reviewed research publications, cited by others
Intellectual Property / Proprietary Technology
Proprietary IP (US patent issued, international patents pending)
PPi is detectable in competitors’ product by routine lab analysis
Building Management Teams and Advisory Board / Network Development Start-up company in place, registered in MO Alliances & advisory relationships in place
with AI industry, producer organizations, USDA, and beef/cattle farmers in US and abroad (for product development and marketing)
Possible expansion into human infertility treatment field
Financial Projections and Milestones
Projected $525K (direct costs only) for 3 years for additional field testing and R&D
Funds primarily used for beta-testing in field AI trials (completion of MILESTONE #3)
Validation by additional research (continuation of completed MILESTONE #2) will support marketing, increase likelihood of success
Field trials conducted by current collaborators at USDA Agricultural Research Service, Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, and potential future customers in US and abroad (Brazil, Denmark, ongoing)
Thank you