One of Benchmark Holdings PLC’s (LON:BMK) aquaculture vaccines has been released into the market for commercial field trials, as the company targets the €300mln Mediterranean sea bass market.
The vaccine aims to protect sea bass from Nodavirus, a disease that impedes growth and causes high production losses, and for which there was previously no effective treatment.
The field trials will see a “significant” number of leading producers use the new vaccine ‘on-farm’ at a commercial scale, ahead of market authorisation, which Benchmark expects to take around nine to twelve months.
“This is another key milestone for Benchmark and is testament to our increased capability, as we continue…to open up new markets for the company by solving major challenges for our customers,” said chief executive Malcolm Pye.
This product represents a first for Benchmark, as the full development process – from R&D to manufacturing to trials – was completed in-house.
Nodavirus also affects other species of fish, including turbot and grouper, and the firm hopes to provide these sectors with similar solutions in the not-too-distant future.
Shares were up 3p, or 5%, to 64p.