VICTORIA, July 26, 2017 /CNW/ - IMMUNOPRECISE ANTIBODIES (the "Company")(TSX VENTURE: IPA)(OTC PINK: IPATF), is pleased to announce the engagement of TerraMar Environmental Research Ltd. ("TerraMar") for the purposes of developing immune-contraceptive vaccines for overabundant wildlife populations. 

TerraMar is a privately held, environmental research consultancy based in Sidney, British Columbia.  Mark Fraker, PhD, Principal at TerraMar, has been working on development of immune-contraceptive vaccines for the past two decades.  The first opportunity the Company will pursue is to complete development of a vaccine that has been previously tested in feral and wild overabundant animal populations.  The lead candidate will target large-animal, overabundant animal populations such as deer, Asian elephants, wild camels, wild burros and wild horses.  The Company will specifically be engaging TerraMar to assist in executing the vaccine development plan and working with Regulatory agencies for approval throughout the world. 

"Using immuno-contraception is far more humane and cost effective than surgical procedures or killing animals to control their populations," said Mark Fraker. "There are significant populations of feral and wild animals in various parts of the world that crowd out indigenous species, become vectors for dangerous diseases or cause physical damage to their environment when their populations are out of control.  The economic cost of overabundant animal population is considerable."  

ImmunoPrecise's lead vaccine candidate has already been tested in several different species and has demonstrated efficacy in multiple species of mammals.  There is significant demand for better, more humane ways of controlling invasive and overabundant species.  The economic and environmental cost burden of non-indigenous animal species is in the hundreds of billions annually in the USA alone.¹  The concept of immune-contraceptive vaccines has been around for many years.  There is at least one approved immune-contraceptive for the control of feral and wild animals on the market in the USA.  However, the large vaccine manufacturers have opted to develop products for more lucrative markets such as infectious diseases and cancer treatments.

"We understand that agencies responsible for wildlife control worldwide are overwhelmed," said Deanna Dryhurst, ImmunoPrecise's Chief Scientist.  "We see tremendous opportunity to provide a solution for the costly and difficult burden of managing over population of certain wild animals around the world; it leverages our core capabilities of matching antigens with antibodies; and, the magnitude and scope of the development work fits with in our capabilities envelope."

¹  David Pimentel, Rodolfo Zuniga and Doug Morrison, 'Update on the environmental and economic costs associated with alien-invasive species in the United States', Original Research Article, Ecological Economics, 2005, vol. 52, issue 3, pages 273-288; abstract online: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800904003027?via%3Dihub

About ImmunoPrecise Antibodies

ImmunoPrecise Antibodies provides its customers with custom antibody engineering and production services to support their research and development efforts. 

Antibodies are naturally occurring proteins capable of binding to specific target molecules, or antigens. They have been used very widely in research assays, diagnostics, purification and therapeutics. The target market for the Company's antibody and peptide products includes organizations in the academic, biological, diagnostic and pharmaceutical fields. This is a large growing market that is expected to double in the next ten years.

The Company operates from state of the art laboratory facilities located at the Vancouver Island Technology Park in Victoria, British Columbia which house its tissue culture and molecular facilities as well as an animal care unit, and is a member of the Canadian Council for Animal Care.

The services offered to customers include the development of mouse and rat monoclonal and rabbit recombinant monoclonal antibodies against a wide spectrum of antigens, as well as polyclonal antibodies, immunologically based assays, and solutions to challenges faced by clients in antibody related research and development.  In addition, cryopreservation services are provided for the storage of valuable biological materials including hybridoma clones, plasmid constructs, and cell lines. The antibodies produced by the Company target a wide variety of environmental, diagnostic and research applications.

The Company employs an experienced group of R&D scientists, and over the last 25 years its investments in research have led to the creation of innovative and proprietary technologies and methods that significantly improve the speed and efficiency of monoclonal and polyclonal antibody production.

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains statements that, to the extent they are not recitations of historical fact, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. ImmunoPrecise uses words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "believe", "intend" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by ImmunoPrecise in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to ImmunoPrecise's expectations and predictions is subject to any number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties.  Many factors could cause ImmunoPrecise's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties described in the Company's Filing Statement dated December 13, 2016 which can be accessed at www.sedar.com. The "forward-looking statements" contained herein speak only as of the date of this press release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise such information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd.

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2017/26/c1812.html