Mazen Animal Health, Inc. Closes First Tranche in Series Seed Round
Ames, IA -- Mazen announces the close of the first tranche in a Series Seed Round totaling $2M. The round was led by Next Level Ventures and joined by Kent Corporation, Ag Startup Engine, Ag Ventures Alliance, ISAV and Summit Ag.
“We are thrilled to be supported by a dynamic group of Iowa-based investors who are providing far more than financial resources.”, said Jenny Filbey, CEO of Mazen. “I am inspired by the energy and ingenuity of the entrepreneurial community in Iowa and ecstatic to now be a part of it.”
Mazen’s leading oral vaccine in development is for the prevention of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, (PEDV). PEDV causes high mortality in young pigs, even approaching 100% in some herds, which results in significant loses in farrowing barns. The initial proof of concept study in young pigs showed oral dosing of Mazen’s vaccine yielded neutralizing antibodies equivalent to a commercial injectable vaccine after a PEDV challenge. Mazen is currently conducting a sow study, supported by Kent’s Innovation team, to demonstrate lactogenic immunity. The first tranche of the Series Seed funding will support preparation for animal studies with PEDV as well as regulatory development. The second tranche will fund further regulatory development, scale up of product, and preparations for registration studies.
“We are excited to play a part in the positive impact Mazen will have on the agricultural and entrepreneurial ecosystems in Iowa.” said Craig Ibsen, Managing Partner at Next Level Ventures. “Mazen’s production platform will offer our animal producers and veterinarians game-changing options for disease prevention and treatment.”
The company plans to raise Series A funding in the second half of 2021 which will be used to complete the registration studies for licensure of the PEDV oral vaccine and build the pipeline.
About Mazen Animal Health, Inc.
Mazen is developing orally-delivered animal vaccines that revolutionize animal disease prevention. Mazen provides elegant solutions to the challenges associated with injectable vaccines and offers customers (1) increased production system ROI - improving the economic & labor thresholds that control the vaccination decision today; (2) a safer method of vaccine administration for both animals and workers; (3) optimized vaccine efficacy allowing for reduced antibiotic use; and (4) vaccines with a global reach because of ambient temperature stability and ease of delivery. Mazen is currently completing a lactogenic immunity study with the PEDV oral vaccine candidate and will be planning for registration studies later this year.