As the aquaculture industry searches for safer and more sustainable ways to protect farmed fish, Hamburg based biotechnology startup AquaNab is developing a new approach that aims to tackle disease at the biological level. The company is developing precision nanoantibody therapies that can be delivered through fish feed, beginning with sea lice in Atlantic salmon, one of the most persistent health and economic challenges facing salmon farming.
Investment Targets Fish Health Innovation
AquaNab has secured investment from Nordic Foodtech VC to advance its nanoantibody platform and move its lead programme closer to proof of concept and eventual commercialisation.
The investment represents Nordic Foodtech VC’s first investment outside the Nordic region. The Finnish venture capital firm focuses on early stage technologies designed to transform the global food system and has expanded its investment mandate from the Nordics and Baltics to northern Europe.
The funding will support AquaNab’s research and development activities as the company works to validate its technology and strengthen partnerships across the aquaculture ecosystem.
Tackling the Sea Lice Problem
AquaNab is initially focusing on sea lice, a parasitic organism that affects farmed salmon and can create significant costs for producers through treatment expenses, production losses and fish mortality.
The company estimates that sea lice costs the global aquaculture industry around $4 billion annually.
Traditional approaches to controlling the parasite include chemical treatments and mechanical delousing. While these methods can help producers manage infestations, they can also create challenges related to fish welfare, operational costs and environmental impact.
AquaNab is seeking to provide producers with another option by targeting the parasite through precision biological treatments.
Nanoantibodies Delivered Through Feed
The company’s technology centres on specialised nanoantibodies known as AquaNabs. These molecules are derived from alpacas and are being developed to be administered to fish through feed.
According to AquaNab’s research, the nanoantibodies can cross the intestinal barrier of fish and enter the bloodstream. This could potentially allow therapeutic molecules to reach their intended targets without requiring invasive administration methods.
The approach is designed around precision rather than broad chemical treatment. By developing molecules aimed at specific disease targets, AquaNab hopes to create solutions that can improve fish health while reducing some of the drawbacks associated with existing disease management practices.
Starting With Atlantic Salmon
AquaNab’s first product is being developed for Atlantic salmon, reflecting the scale of the sea lice challenge in salmon aquaculture.
However, the company sees the technology as a broader platform rather than a single product. Its nanoantibody approach could potentially be adapted to address bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases affecting other farmed aquatic species.
This platform strategy could give AquaNab opportunities to expand beyond its initial sea lice programme as it builds scientific and commercial validation.
Building an Aquaculture Health Platform
The company was founded in Hamburg by Dr Ruth Tamara Montero, Dr Alejandro Rojas Fernandez and Gunnar Johildarson. Its development is focused on combining biotechnology with practical solutions for fish producers.
AquaNab is also working to establish collaborations with salmon producers, feed manufacturers and animal health companies. These partnerships will be important for testing how the technology performs under commercial aquaculture conditions and for developing pathways towards market adoption.
Advancing Sustainable Aquaculture
The investment comes as the aquaculture sector faces increasing pressure to produce more food while improving animal welfare and reducing environmental impacts.
Nordic Foodtech VC positions its investment strategy around technologies that can contribute to a more sustainable, resilient and healthy food system, including solutions related to animal health and the protection of water and marine resources.
For AquaNab, the immediate priority is to advance its lead sea lice programme toward proof of concept and expand its network of industry partners.
If successful, the company’s nanoantibody platform could offer aquaculture producers a new biological tool for managing disease, beginning with salmon farming and potentially extending to a much wider range of species and health challenges.
