REG - Animalcare Group PLC - Collaboration to develop treatment for sweet itch

AnimalcareAnnouncement

24/09/2025 07:00

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RNS Number : 5265A  Animalcare Group PLC  24 September 2025

Animalcare Group plc

("Animalcare" or the "Group" or the "Company")

 

Collaboration to develop innovative treatment for equine dermatological
condition "sweet itch"

Programme targets significant unmet need in global equine health market

 

24 September 2025. Animalcare Group plc (AIM: ANCR) today announces that it
has entered into an agreement to develop and commercialise a novel biological
treatment for a common equine skin condition, known as "sweet itch", in
collaboration with 272Bio Limited ("272Bio"), a specialist in antibody
technology. Sweet itch affects an estimated c8% of horses globally and there
is a significant unmet need and demand for more effective treatments which
today largely comprise topical applications. The annual addressable market is
estimated to be worth between €150m - €200m globally(1). The programme is
at an early stage and will initially focus on preclinical research with the
aim of achieving proof of concept over the next 18-24 months.

 

This collaboration leverages the Group's recently announced partnership with
272Bio, following the acquisition of the VHH NGF antibody programme from
Orthros Medical. The agreement grants Animalcare access to 272Bio's half life
extension technology and significant experience in antibody development,
furthering the Group's strategy to bring to market a pipeline of innovative
products to drive sustainable medium and long-term growth.

 

This licence agreement and research collaboration is another exciting step
forward in the development of its equine franchise, which was enhanced in Q1
2025 with the acquisition of Randlab, an exclusively equine focussed business
based in Australia.

Jenny Winter, Chief Executive Officer of Animalcare Group plc said: "This is
an exciting step forward in our long-term strategy, building our equine
franchise and establishing a pipeline of innovative products that bring
benefits to horses in large and growing segments of the market. This
collaboration also strengthens our partnership with 272Bio, who are
specialists in the antibody field, and we look forward to working closely with
them on this development."

 

Charles Owen, Chief Executive Officer of 272Bio Limited said: "We are excited
to collaborate further with Animalcare as they expand their innovative
antibody portfolio. 272Bio brings proven expertise in therapeutic antibody
discovery, development and manufacturing capabilities, having already achieved
multiple successful proof of concepts. By combining our expertise with
Animalcare's commercial strengths in equine health, we aim to develop a
market-leading drug."

 

1.        ANCR management estimate (utilising 3(rd) party equine
population and medicalisation rates by country).

 

Enquiries

 Animalcare Group Plc                                                                                                                         +44 (0)1904 487 687

 Jenny Winter, Chief Executive Officer

Chris Brewster, Chief Financial Officer

Media/investor relations                                                                                                                    communications@animalcaregroup.com (mailto:communications@animalcaregroup.com)

 Stifel (Nominated Advisor & Joint Broker)                                                                                                    Tel: +44 (0)20 7710 7600

 Ben Maddison, Jason Grossman, Francis North

 Panmure Liberum (Joint Broker)                                                                                                               +44 (0)20 7886 2500

 Corporate Finance - Emma Earl, Freddy Crossley

 Corporate Broking - Rupert Dearden

 Alma Strategic Communications                                                                                                                +44 (0)20 3405 0205

Caroline Forde, Kinvara Verdon, Rose                                                                                                        animalcare@almastrategic.com (mailto:animalcare@almastrategic.com)
 Docherty

 

About Animalcare

Animalcare Group plc is a UK AIM-listed international veterinary sales and
marketing organisation. Animalcare operates in seven European countries as
well as Australia, New Zealand and the UAE and exports to approximately 40
countries in Europe and worldwide. The Group is focused on bringing new and
innovative products to market through its own development pipeline,
partnerships and via acquisition.

 

For more information about Animalcare, please visit www.animalcaregroup.com
(http://www.animalcaregroup.com)

 

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