REG - Genus - Pos. determination-PRRS resistant pigs-Colombia

GenusAnnouncement

05/10/2023 10:30

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RNS Number : 8320O  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  (#_ftn1) 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: +44 (0)1256 345970
 Jorgen Kokke, Chief Executive Officer

Alison Henriksen, Chief Financial Officer

Anand Date, Investor Relations Director
 Buchanan                                     Tel: +44 (0)207 466 5000
 Charles Ryland / Chris Lane / Verity Parker

This announcement is available on the Genus website www.genusplc.com
(http://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.

 1  (#_ftnref1) 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/
(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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