Hatching novel products to control pests wins two awards
[ UniNews Vol. 15, No. 12
10 - 24 July 2006 ]
Commercialisation of novel pest control technologies developed at the University of Melbourne – including a new, low toxicity head lice treatment – won first prizes in two categories for University research venture company Hatchtech Pty Ltd at the recent Commercialisation Expo 2006 Awards.
Hatchtech, a ‘spin-out’ enterprise of Melbourne Ventures, the University’s commercialisation company, won the prizes for Best Australian Life Sciences Commercialisation Company and Best Victorian Technology Commercialisation Company.
The awards recognise Hatchtech’s development of products that use technology based on inhibiting egg hatching in a range of pest species, including head lice.
Leading development of the technology in the University’s Centre for Animal Biotechnology is Dr Vern Bowles, Chief Scientific Officer of Hatchtech.
Dr Bowles says his team’s most advanced product is a treatment that can reduce the recurring incidence of head lice in children.
“Current treatments kill the living lice in hair, but do not reliably kill the unhatched eggs. This situation can mean that parents need to give their children multiple treatments to combat the problem,” he says. “Our unique product kills eggs with a very high level of effectiveness.”
Melbourne Ventures has worked closely with Hatchtech since the company was established five years ago and has been integral in its success, beginning with helping to secure Hatchtech’s first round of investment from the University’s pre-seed venture capital fund Uniseed.
Additional investment for Hatchtech has since been secured through Melbourne Ventures from some of Australia’s leading venture capital firms and financial institutions.
Hatchtech has also worked with Melbourne Ventures under the State Government’s Vicstart program, which has enabled Melbourne Ventures’ Dr Lewis Schulz to provide management expertise in the early stages of the company’s life.
CEO of Hatchtech, Mr Paul MacLeman, describes the company’s technology as the world’s most advanced for the control of pest species egg hatching.
“We are very excited about the head lice control product which we hope will provide parents around the world with a revolutionary product to address the difficult problem of controlling head lice,” he says.
“We are also very excited about the opportunity to address the much larger markets in the areas of crop, veterinary and household pest control.”
The head lice product is undergoing pre-clinical toxicology testing and is expected to undergo its first human clinical trials in late 2006.
Other applications of the technology are currently undergoing proof of commercial concept work in preparation for commencement of full commercial development.
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