Kiwi dairy product that could help Covid immunity

The eventual product is intended to safeguard people in high-risk situations including events, frontline work, or during mass transportation such as on trains or flights.

Still in the early stages of development, a technical breakthrough captured as a provisional patent filing, means the product is getting ready for on-farm pilot-scale production of the immune milk-based active ingredient using selected animals.

Chief executive officer Dr Steve Hodgkinson says the product is positioned to meet a market need for science-backed immune support, particularlyy relevant considering the current pandemic.

"Beyong vaccines, PPE and social distancing, there are few options available for people wanting to reduce their personal risk of contracting Covid-19. We are working towards a product that can provide science-backed immune support," says Hodgkinson.

The science mimics nature in much the same way that a mother's milk protects the newborn.

The recent breakthrough, made in collaboration the University of Waikato, has centred around the design of coronavirus antigens that induce antibodies in ruminant milk that block virus binding to the receptor that allows entry to human cells.

The product is intended for immediate, short-term protection, so users would take a productive dose when entering a high-risk situation and receive protection for 3-4 hours. The product is different to a vaccine, which is slower to act, but provides longer term protection.

Hodgkinson says the freedom that the product could provide consumers is exciting, especially with so many Kiwis currently facing alert level restrictions. With the proof-of-concept phase complete, the time to market for the final product, which will likely be taken as an oral supplement or nasal spray, should be relatively short.

Hodgkinson says the potential application of the technology extend well beyond the current pandemic, with opportunities to provide immune support against other pathogens, such as norovirus, which regularly sweeps through close-quartered environments like cruise ships and retirement villages.

Notably, the research has been self-funded to date via a loan from Callaghan Innovation. Hodgkinson says, "we are looking for funders and partners who can help us move into pilot-scale production and launch a product next year".