AquaNab Solutions is taking a new approach to one of salmon farming’s most persistent problems. The Hamburg-based biotechnology startup has secured an undisclosed investment from Nordic Foodtech VC to advance its nanoantibody technology for treating and preventing diseases in aquaculture. The company is initially developing the technology to target sea lice in Atlantic salmon.
AquaNab Secures Investment From Nordic Foodtech VC
AquaNab did not disclose the size of the investment. The funding comes from Nordic Foodtech VC, a Finnish early-stage venture capital firm that focuses on challenges in food and agriculture.
The investment is significant for Nordic Foodtech VC because AquaNab represents its first investment outside the Nordic countries. The investor will support AquaNab as it advances its technology and moves its lead programme toward completing proof of concept. AquaNab also plans to expand collaborations with salmon producers, feed manufacturers and animal health companies as it develops its first products.
Nanoantibodies Delivered Through Fish Feed
AquaNab is developing precision nanoantibodies called AquaNabs. The company produces these nanoantibodies from alpaca-derived antibodies and is developing a way to deliver them to fish through feed.
The company says its research has shown that the nanoantibodies can cross the intestinal barrier of fish and enter the bloodstream. This approach could allow producers to administer the treatment through regular feeding instead of relying on separate treatment procedures. AquaNab is currently focusing on Atlantic salmon, with sea lice as its first target. The technology remains in development, and the company is working toward completing proof of concept for its lead programme. It has not yet established the technology as a commercially approved treatment.
Tackling a Major Salmon Farming Challenge
Sea lice remain a major challenge for salmon producers. The parasite can affect fish health and create additional costs through treatment, production losses and mortality. AquaNab estimates that sea lice cost the aquaculture industry around $4 billion each year. Industry reports also describe the parasite as one of the most costly and persistent problems facing salmon farming.
Farmers currently use chemical and mechanical methods to control sea lice. AquaNab is developing its feed-based approach as an alternative to these methods, with the aim of making disease management less stressful for fish while improving treatment options for producers.
Platform Could Extend Beyond Sea Lice
While sea lice is AquaNab’s first focus, the company is developing its technology as a broader platform. The nanoantibody approach is designed to potentially address bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases across different aquaculture species. This broader potential gives the technology a wider application than a single sea lice treatment. However, these additional uses remain part of the company’s development plans and should not be viewed as established treatments.
AquaNab was founded in Hamburg by Dr. Ruth Tamara Montero, Dr. Alejandro Rojas Fernandez and Gunnar Johildarson. Montero, a fish immunologist, serves as the company’s CEO and co-founder.
Funding to Support Further Development
The new investment will give AquaNab additional resources to advance its nanoantibody platform and continue development of its lead programme. The company will also work with industry partners as it moves toward proof of concept and future commercialisation.
For Nordic Foodtech VC, the investment adds an aquaculture biotechnology company to its portfolio and expands its investment activity beyond the Nordic region. For AquaNab, the funding provides support for its effort to develop a feed-delivered treatment for sea lice. The company’s immediate focus remains Atlantic salmon and sea lice. If its technology successfully completes development and proves effective, AquaNab could offer salmon producers a new way to manage one of the industry’s long-standing health and production challenges.
