Key Takeaways:
- Seek Labs has been awarded $2 million from USDA APHIS under the HPAI Grand Challenge initiative.
- The funding will support development of a mutation-resistant therapeutic for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
- The company will use its Programmable Target Ablation Platform (PTAP) and BioSeeker disease intelligence system.
- The project includes collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
- The initiative is part of a broader $100 million federal effort to combat avian influenza.
Seek Labs Awarded USDA Funding for HPAI Therapeutic Development
Seek Labs has received a $2 million award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to develop a novel therapeutic targeting highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The grant is part of APHIS’s $100 million HPAI Grand Challenge, a multi-year initiative launched in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to accelerate innovation in prevention, vaccines, therapeutics, and biosecurity.
The funding comes amid ongoing disruptions caused by avian influenza outbreaks, which have impacted poultry production, contributed to higher egg and poultry prices, and placed strain on food supply systems.
“HPAI is a persistent, evolving threat with real consequences for food security, agricultural stability, and global health preparedness,” said Alison O’Mahony, Senior Vice President of Research at Seek Labs. “By pairing BioSeeker, our disease intelligence layer, with PTAP’s programmable design, we’re building a pan-HPAI therapeutic that is designed for viral evolution and remains effective as the virus evolves.”
