Bioniche developing synthetic cow fertility product

Bioniche Life Sciences (ASX:BNC) could be on the road to developing the world's first entirely synthetic FSH product for increasing fertility rates in cows, proof-of-concept stage data suggests.

The company has presented encouraging preliminary results from early tests of analogues produced using recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) technology.

Bioniche has negotiated an exclusive global veterinary license for the technology from its developer, US-based biotech Trophogen.

A single dose of the rFSH analogues has demonstrated the ability to induce a superovulatory response in beef cows, over three consecutive treatment occasions, the data shows.

Bioniche CEO Graeme McRae said more testing will be required to determine the optimal dosing of the technology, and the long-term effects of treatment using rFSH more than three times consecutively.

But he added that he was confident that a viable product can be produced. “Trophogen has developed a clearly superior recombinant FSH technology which will, over the coming years, be developed into a synthetic product containing no material of animal origin.”

All current FSH products in the market, including Bioniche's own Folltropin-V, are derived from animal materials. This leaves open the potential for contamination with infectious agents from the source material.

Canada-headquartered Bioniche has both human and animal health divisions. Its Australian operators are focused on animal health.

Bioniche has been increasingly concentrating on its animal health business, and spending heavily to improve the division's product sales. Last month, the company received US and Canadian regulatory approval for one of two canine cancer treatments in development.

After gaining 15.22% on Tuesday, Bioniche (ASX:BNC) shares were trading 3.77% higher at $0.550 as of around 2:30pm on Wednesday.