Peter Sutovsky, PhD, Dr.h.c.

 Fertilization  Male infertility in humans  Male fertility in livestock species  Assisted Reproductive Technologies/Therapy (ART)  Improvement of Artificial Insemination (AI)  Tech Transfer & Startups

 Increases reproductive efficiency  Limits spread of infectious diseases  Disseminates genes of bulls/boars with superior production traits

Annual semen sales: $1.5 billion (dairy) $250 million (beef) $600 million (swine) Mature industry, with two hot spots:  Sexed semen  Higher fertility Need to maximize output of semen from bulls/boars with valuable genetic traits

 Poor semen quality  High sperm number needed per AI dose  Poor sperm survival during processing (freezing), storage & distribution reduces pregnancy rates after AI

 Simple, cheap additive that increases sperm survival during semen processing and storage, and after sexing, freezing and thawing

 Sperm cells produce ATP to fuel their movement, necessary for fertilization  External ATP can be added to improve sperm movement and but is prohibitively expensive and unstable  We discovered that sperm can utilize inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) to supplement ATP as energy source  Contrary to ATP, PPi is very stable and cheap

 Increased bull/boar fertility translates into significant additional income to cattlemen, swine industry and AI semen distributors  We will develop two fertility related products:  Additive for bull semen  Extender for boar semen 

1. PROOF OF THE CONCEPT – evaluation of sperm viability and energy production with/without PPi addition: COMPLETED 2. VALIDATION RESEARCH - test tube fertilization with PPi supplemented stored semen: COMPLETED 3. FIELD TRIALS - artificial insemination with PPi-supplemented semen - ONGOING PPi Extends The Fertilizing Ability of Boar Sperm Cells Stored for 4 Days at Room Temperature. Yi et al., 2012, PLoS One 7(4):e34524

 Startup company OR licensing to AI industry partners  Product is a semen extender/additive  Strong ties with potential customers already exist  Customers have already been educated on PPi advantages via presentations at industry conventions & in-service training sessions

 Semen sexing  Magnetic-based semen nanopurification  Timed sperm release in female reproductive tract (SpermVital gel)

 Components are precisely characterized, high purity, easy to dose, inexpensive, require minimal equipment & quality control  Minimal regulatory requirements in this field  Very low cost for commercially sourced PPi (~1 lb for $120)  Very simple manufacturing  Product is already backed by high quality peer-reviewed research publications, cited by others

 Proprietary IP (US patent issued, international patents pending)  PPi is detectable in competitors’ product by routine lab analysis

 Start-up company in place, registered in MO  Alliances & advisory relationships in place with AI industry, producer organizations, USDA, and beef/cattle farmers in US and abroad (for product development and marketing)  Possible expansion into human infertility treatment field

 Projected $525K (direct costs only) for 3 years for additional field testing and R&D  Funds primarily used for beta-testing in field AI trials (completion of MILESTONE #3)  Validation by additional research (continuation of completed MILESTONE #2) will support marketing, increase likelihood of success  Field trials conducted by current collaborators at USDA Agricultural Research Service, Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, and potential future customers in US and abroad (Brazil, Denmark, ongoing)

Thank you