AB Vista to assess Avecho’s (ASX:AVE) TPM application in pig health

• Feed additive business AB Vista is expanding its assessment of Avecho’s (AVE) drug delivery system, TPM, in planned commercial livestock products
• Avecho’s Tocopheryl Phosphate Mixture (TPM) has been proven to enhance the solubility and oral, dermal and transdermal absorption of drugs and nutrients
• AB Vista will test TPM in products being developed to control post-weaning diarrhoea in pigs
• Currently, doses of zinc oxide between 2000-3000 parts per million (ppm) are added to a pigs diet to control the diarrhoea condition, however, the European Union is planning to ban doses of zinc oxide over 150 ppm
• AB Vista aims to conclude its studies and present a new product to market before the ban and plans to partner with Avecho if the TPM studies are successful
• Shares are trading 5.9 per cent higher at 1.8 cents

Feed additive business AB Vista is expanding its assessment of Avecho’s (AVE) drug delivery system, TPM, in planned commercial livestock products that aim to control diarrhoea in pigs.

Avecho’s Tocopheryl Phosphate Mixture (TPM) is derived from vitamin E and has been proven to enhance the solubility and oral, dermal and transdermal absorption of drugs and nutrients.

While the company focuses on its human health and cannabinoid programs, it is also supporting potential commercial partners and additional third parties to explore the application of TPM in animal health.

AB Vista has been conducting a range of studies with TPM over the past two years and has noted improvements with livestock feeds.

AB Vista focuses on developing products and technical services for the poultry, swine, ruminant and aquaculture sectors. The business uses its product
research, technical services and nutrition knowledge to gather insights that can help provide novel solutions to feed compounders, integrators and pre-mixes.

Now, AB Vista plans to assess the addition of TPM in products being developed to control post-weaning diarrhoea in pigs.

Currently, zinc in the form of zinc oxide is used in swine diets at 2000-3000 parts per million (ppm) in the first few weeks after weaning to help control the extremely common and detrimental diarrhoea condition.

However, zinc oxide levels above 150 ppm are set to be banned from animal feeds in the European Union starting June 2022, due to environmental concerns with heavy metal accumulation and the potential for antimicrobial resistance.

Consequently, animal health companies are seeking additive alternatives.

If a positive outcome is received from the planned program of TPM in the feed products, AB Vista will consider partnering with Avecho to bring TPM to the animal feed market.

AB Vista’s Director of R&D, Dr Mike Bedford, said the company plans to complete the studies in time to identify a new product to take to market prior to the June 2022 ban on high-zinc-oxide dosing.

“Opportunities for an ingredient such as TPM do exist in this sector, but selection for commercialisation will rely on how TPM performs relative to other agents, both alone and in combination with our other actives,” he explained.

Shares are trading 5.9 per cent higher at 1.8 cents at 12:04pm AEST.