Key Takeaways:
- Betagro Ventures joins an ~$18.4 million Series B funding round for U.S.-based animal health company BiomEdit.
- Proceeds will advance BE-101 (“Optavant™”), designed to help prevent necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens.
- Necrotic enteritis is estimated to cause $6 billion in global poultry losses each year.
- BE-101 is a non-antibiotic probiotic vectored antibody product, with commercial launch planned for 2026.
- Funding round led by Anterra Capital, with participation from Nutreco, AgriZeroNZ, and Elevate Ventures.
Betagro Ventures Joins Global Investor Group in Series B
Betagro Ventures, the investment arm of Thailand-based Betagro Public Company (BTG), has participated in the Series B financing of BiomEdit, a U.S.-based animal health biotechnology company. The oversubscribed ~$18.4 million round was led by Anterra Capital, with continued investment from Nutreco and new participation from AgriZeroNZ, Elevate Ventures, and Betagro Ventures.
The funding will support the advancement of BE-101, BiomEdit’s lead candidate aimed at addressing necrotic enteritis (NE) in poultry, through the final phase of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s conditional licensure process and toward its targeted 2026 commercial launch.
BE-101 and Its Intended Role in Poultry Production
BE-101, to be marketed as Optavant™ upon licensure, is described by BiomEdit as the first probiotic vectored antibody (pvAb™) designed to neutralize Clostridium perfringens toxins, which are a primary cause of necrotic enteritis in poultry. NE is estimated to result in about $6 billion annually in global productivity losses, illness, and mortality in the poultry sector.
Statements from Betagro and BiomEdit
Chayadhorn Taepaisitphongse, President – Animal Nutrition & New Ventures of Betagro, said: “We are proud to support BiomEdit in advancing its cutting-edge biologics platform and bringing a first-of-its-kind animal health solution to market. This partnership underscores our commitment to innovation-driven solutions that proactively address new challenges posed by animal disease outbreaks, effectively serve market needs, thereby enhancing animal health, boosting productivity across the livestock industry, and growing the overall industry sustainably. Furthermore, this collaboration will provide us with access to leading advancements in novel feed and animal health products, acting as a catalyst for co-developing innovative solutions for the future.”
Aaron Schacht, CEO of BiomEdit, said: “This is an exciting chapter for BiomEdit. We are bringing a transformational poultry solution to U.S. broiler producers and pushing the frontiers of sustainable livestock production. In just three years since our founding, we are poised to deliver products to market, bolstered by new financing and investor support, including Betagro Ventures, and well-suited for the opportunities and challenges ahead.”
Next Steps for Commercialization
According to BiomEdit, BE-101 is currently in the final stage of the USDA’s conditional licensure process. If approved, it is scheduled for a commercial launch in 2026. The company states that the product offers a non-antibiotic approach intended to improve poultry production efficiency and address the economic and health impacts of necrotic enteritis.
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