Shares in Genus PLC (LSE:GNS) surged 22% on Wednesday after the US Food and Drug Administration approved the company’s gene-edited pigs for use in the American food supply.
It marks a major breakthrough for the FTSE 250 animal genetics group, which has spent years developing pigs resistant to PRRS, a disease that has long plagued the global pork industry.
Importantly for investors, Genus confirmed that the approval was in line with expectations and said its wider commercial strategy and financial guidance remain unchanged.
PRRS, or porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, causes widespread illness and early death in pigs and is one of the most costly and disruptive diseases in the livestock sector.
The gene-edited pigs are engineered to be resistant to the virus, a step that could reduce animal suffering and significantly cut antibiotic use. Studies suggest PRRS can lead to more than double the use of antibiotics in infected animals.
The stock jumped 352p to 1,938p.