ViAqua Therapeutics, a Haifa, Israel-based biotechnology company and developer of an orally administered RNA-particle platform preventing aquaculture diseases, raised $8.25M in funding.
The round was led by S2G Ventures with participation from Rabo Ventures, The Trendlines Group Ltd., Agriline Limited, Nutreco, I-Lab Angels and Circle Investments LLC.
The company intends to use the funds to bring its first product to market, invest in R&D for future products, and prove the platform’s ability to deliver RNA-based solutions at scale.
Led by Shai Ufaz, CEO, ViAqua was established to address the growing need for specific health management of diseases in aquaculture. To this end, the company is developing a biotechnology-based, oral delivery platform for administration of nucleic acid-based solutions for promoting health in marine species. The first product is a feed supplement to enhance resistance to viral infections in shrimp, with the initial application targeting White Spot Virus (WSSV). This solution will provide production stability for farmers while also creating the opportunity to increase production per farm without increasing disease risk.
With plans to begin production in India at the beginning of 2024, the company has established a commercial partnership through a joint development and marketing agreement with Skretting, a Nutreco company, to bring the product to the market.
FinSMEs
05/09/2023