Business
Technology that can pre-determine the sex of cattle and swine livestock is acquired by Microbix. Sperm-sexing technology expected to be a major breakthrough
Technology that can pre-determine the sex of cattle and swine livestock is acquired by Microbix. Sperm-sexing technology expected to be a major breakthrough.
About this update from Microbix Biosystems Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\n\nTORONTO, Sept. 30 /CNW/ - Microbix Biosystems Inc. (MBX:TSX) has acquired\na proprietary sperm-sexing technology that will enable sex-selection of\nagricultural animals prior to conception.\nMicrobix has obtained the technology through its announced acquisition of\nprivately-held Sequent Biotechnologies Inc.\nMicrobix and Sequent are not aware of any significant large commercial\ncompetition to this proprietary technology. The sperm-sexing technology (SST)\nis expected to be one of the most significant breakthroughs in the field of\ncommercial animal production since the original introduction of artificial\ninsemination (AI) almost 50 years ago.\nThe technology was invented, and originating patents established, at the\nUniversity of Guelph which will receive a royalty on sales once the product\nenters the marketplace. Sequent is the exclusive licensee of the technology.\nThe technology is important because producers currently spend billions of\ndollars annually on artificial insemination, yet they can end up with animals\nunsuited to their particular industry's needs. For example, dairy farmers want\nfemale calves, yet half the time, males are born. Sequent's novel technology\ncan separate male-producing sperm from female-producing sperm, thus ensuring\nthe desired sex of offspring for use in commercial animal production.\nThe technology does not involve genetic modification, is non-invasive,\nand the Company believes the technology should not require regulatory\napproval.\nMicrobix estimates that this technology could save producers in OECD\ncountries alone U.S. $5 billion a year. The Company's sales would be a\npercentage of this amount annually, based on double digit royalty agreements\nwith global semen producers of the commercial animal breeding industry.\nThe technology can be fully integrated into the existing distribution\nsystems serving the AI markets. Microbix plans to license the technology to AI\nbreeding companies in return for royalties based on their sales of sex-\nspecific semen.\nThe process has already been patented in the U.S. and Europe, and\nMicrobix will continue to pursue patent protection in other countries, and\nover other elements of the technology.\nMicrobix will fund further development of the technology, and says it\nwill be able to do so without having to add new facilities. Sequent's key...