It is anticipated that Zoetis would develop, market and distribute the product, known as Detach, globally.
A spokesperson for that US company told FeedNavigator that the official announcement is “all that can be said about the evaluation agreement at this time.”
The deal is expected to take several months to conclude. However, Zoetis stressed that there is no guarantee that a transaction will be established and completed.
Anatara told us last year that it would retain rights to the product for markets in Australia and New Zealand, although Zoetis would have the option of taking the product to other countries.
The negotiations on licensing follow an exclusive research evaluation stage, which began in January 2016.
Antibiotic alternative
The Detach technology is a lead product for the Australian company. The plant-based product is intended to address global concerns regarding the use of antibiotics in livestock and the link to antibiotic resistance in both animals and humans.
Detach is used to control or reduce instances of diarrhea in production animals.
The product is a form of BromelainRx, which is derived from pineapple stems. It is designed to be offered orally and to work in the small intestine.
Initially tested with pigs, it may also be used with calves and chickens, said the Australian company.
In trials looking at more than 6,000 piglets on commercial farms, Anatara said the product reduced both the incidence of scour and scour-related deaths. It also has been linked to improved weight gain and a reduction in the amount of antibiotics used, reported the manufacturer.
Anatara has focused much of its R&D work on generating supplements to address gastrointestinal disease in production animals, it said.
Zoetis provided upfront and subsequent payments during the evaluation period to support research using Detach in poultry and calves.