Pos. determination-PRRS resistant pigs-Colombia

Genus PLC

05 October 2023

 

For immediate Release
5 October 2023

Genus plc
('Genus' or the 'Group')

Colombian Government Gives Positive Determination for Genus's PRRS Virus-Resistant Pigs

Genus plc (LSE: GNS), a leading global animal genetics company, announces that the government of Colombia has given a favourable regulatory determination for Genus's Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus ("PRRS") resistant pigs. This enables the future sale of such pigs in Colombia.

PRRS is one of the most significant diseases in the pig industry, causing severe respiratory distress, increased secondary infections, pregnancy loss and increased morbidity and mortality. There are currently no effective vaccines or treatments.  The creation of a PRRS resistant pig therefore represents a significant step forward in the welfare of pigs by protecting them from this devastating virus. It is estimated that PRRS costs the US and EU pig industry approximately $2 billion[1] each year.

Genus has used its gene editing platform to develop pigs resistant to PRRS, by deleting a very small portion of the pigs' DNA that encodes a protein that the virus uses to enter and infect the pigs' cells.  With this small gene edit, the pig is resistant to PRRS, as the virus is unable to enter the cells and replicate.

The Colombian government is the first to issue a determination for Genus's PRRS resistant pigs, enabling the future commercialisation of the pigs. The PRRS resistant pigs will be treated in the same way as any other pigs in Colombia.  Further regulatory approvals for the PRRS resistant pig are also being sought in the United States, Canada, China, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and other countries. Genus anticipates a decision from the United States Food and Drug Administration in the first half of 2024, to be followed by a phased global launch of the pigs, subject to receiving applicable regulatory approvals. Genus will be hosting a Capital Markets Event in London on 1 November 2023 to provide additional information on its PRRS resistant pig development, registration and commercialisation programme.

"We are delighted by this positive decision of the Colombian government," says Jorgen Kokke, Chief Executive Officer of Genus. "It represents an important step towards giving pig producers the ability to address this devastating disease and to improve the health and well-being of pigs and the sustainability of pork production globally."

"We look forward to making these pigs available to producers in Colombia and other markets, subject to regulatory approval, but it's important to understand that regulatory milestones like the one in Colombia don't automatically mean we will begin sales," says Matt Culbertson, Chief Operating Officer of PIC. "As this will be the first gene edited pig sold commercially, we want to act responsibly, working closely and transparently with all stakeholders in the animal protein value chain."

Genus	Tel: [phone]
Jorgen Kokke, Chief Executive Officer Alison Henriksen, Chief Financial Officer Anand Date, Investor Relations Director
Buchanan	Tel: [phone]
Charles Ryland / Chris Lane / Verity Parker

This announcement is available on the Genus website www.genusplc.com

Regulatory Notes

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("MAR"), and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR.  The person responsible for making this announcement on behalf of the Group is Dan Hartley (General Counsel and Company Secretary).

About Genus
Genus is a world-leading animal genetics company. Genus creates advances to animal breeding and genetic improvement by applying biotechnology and sells added value products for livestock farming and food producers. Its technology is applicable across livestock species and is currently commercialised by Genus in the dairy, beef and pork food production sectors.

Genus's worldwide sales are made in over seventy-five countries under the trademarks 'ABS' (dairy and beef cattle) and 'PIC' (pigs) and comprise semen, embryos and breeding animals with superior genetics to those animals currently in farms. Genus's customers' animals produce offspring with greater production efficiency, and quality, and use these to supply the global dairy and meat supply chains.

The Group's competitive edge has been created from the ownership and control of proprietary lines of breeding animals, the biotechnology used to improve them and its global supply chain, technical service and sales and distribution network.

With headquarters in Basingstoke, United Kingdom, Genus companies operate in over twenty-five countries on six continents, with research laboratories located in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

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[1]Xavier de Paz, "PRRS cost for the European swine industry" Pig.333.com, 17 August 2015. https://www.pig333.com/articles/prrs-cost-for-the-european-swine-industry_10069/; Holtkamp DJ, Kliebenstein JB, Neumann EJ, et al. "Assessment of the economic impact of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus on United States pork producers" J Swine Health Prod. 2013;21(2):72-84.

 

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