Plasma derived from farmed Atlantic salmon is one of the products Salmonics has already developed.
Photo: Salmonics.
U.S.-based Salmonics, Inc. a leader in biotechnology innovation, announced Lerøy Seafood Group's strategic investment in the company to drive its innovation and growth. "This collaboration highlights Lerøy's confidence in Salmonics' innovative products and patents, positioning both companies to expand their impact in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors," read Salmonics' release announcing the funding. Terms of the investment have not been disclosed.
The investment, which will support Salmonics' continued growth and development of cutting-edge biotechnology solutions using fish blood, comes after Lerøy's 100% Fish department succeeded in finding a use for salmon blood by converting it into iron and launching the SalmoFer® brand on the market.
"One of our strategic priorities is to make better use of our own raw materials by increasing the value of our by-products," claimed Lerøy's CEO, Henning Beltestad when presenting the new product. In fact, the 100% Fish department was established with that purpose in mind: to work on developing, marketing, and selling innovative products made with Lerøy's raw ingredients to new market segments.
"By using all our raw ingredients and expertise at Lerøy, as well as our good partnerships with R&D communities, biotech ventures and start-ups, we want to bring more innovative products to market in order to make even better use of our raw materials and add more value," added Mats Trones, head of Lerøy's 100% Fish department.
In this case the partnership with a biotech venture goes beyond mere collaboration. Lerøy's investment marks a significant milestone for Salmonics, providing the company with the resources to accelerate its product development and market reach.
"This collaboration between Salmonics and Lerøy will usher in new opportunities to expand the use of our fish blood based biomedical products into the biotechnology and pharmaceutical space globally," said Cem Giray, Ph.D., President and CEO of Salmonics.
Moreover, both companies said that this partnership underscores the potential for sustainable practices within the seafood industry to support advances in biomedicine and biotechnology.
"Lerøy’s expertise and commitment to sustainability align perfectly with our mission to transform aquaculture and fisheries byproducts into valuable biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and research resources to improve patient care and outcomes while potentially lowering healthcare costs with a net positive environmental impact," the U.S. biotech company's head added.
"We are excited and pleased to support the work Salmonics has undertaken to advance cutting-edge biotechnological solutions utilizing farmed fish, increasing value and meeting our sustainable development goals," said Lerøy's CEO. "This investment reflects our commitment to innovative solutions that enhance the efficiency and potential of the seafood value chain while delivering positive benefits to healthcare," Henning Beltestad concluded.
Brunswick, Maine-based biotech company Salmonics develops and markets innovative reagents and biomedical products from the blood of salmon and other fish species, transforming a byproduct into a valuable resource for research, and veterinary and human health applications. By upcycling a fisheries and aquaculture byproduct that would otherwise be discarded, Salmonics contributes to sustainable seafood production.
Headquartered in Bergen, Norway, Lerøy Seafood Group is a global seafood leader with approximately 6,000 employees, industrial and distribution activity in 15 countries, and sales to more than 80 markets worldwide. The company handles up to 400,000 tons of seafood per year, aiming to create the world's most efficient and sustainable seafood value chain while committing to ambitious sustainability targets, including a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.