INTERVIEW FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE September 2023 53 which promotes healthy growth in poultry by targeting the pathogen Clostridium perfringens that causes $6b of economic loss each year to the poultry industry. We asked Axitan's Founder and CEO, Dr Kane Miller, for detailed information about the company and its products. Dr Miller answered the questions: Dr Miller, your company has been focusing on reducing the use of antibiotics in animals. Why is this issue so important to you? Quite simply, the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is real. It already accounts for over 1m human deaths a year and the World Health Organisation expects this number to increase to 10m per annum by 2050 if left unchecked. What is less recognised outside of the livestock industry is that the majority of antibiotics (66%) are consumed by animals. As a business we are therefore focused on developing novel antibiotic alternatives that offer the potential to both manage a range of bacteria impacting livestock farming that have historically been managed through antibiotics and improve productivity. And what is your solution or solutions to reduce antibiotics? How are these solutions being used and how do they eliminate the need for antibiotics? Axitan uses a type of antimicrobial enzyme called an endolysin. Endolysins are unique in that they performs two functions. Firstly, they specifically bind only to the cell wall of the intended target bacterial species. Secondly, they then cut the bonds of the peptidoglycan layer causing the cell to burst and safely disintegrate. Our endolysins are the core component of FORC3®. In terms of usage, it is like any regular feed additive in the sense that it is a dried powder mixed into the feed at the feed mill. To give a sense of quantities required, for our FORC3® Clostridium perfringens poultry product, the inclusion rate is around 0.5kg per metric tonne (or 1lb/US Ton). In terms of performance, we have seen significant drops in mortality in challenge studies. Importantly, we are also seeing material productivity gains in key KPI criteria such as weight gain, and Feed Conversion Ratios. You are working intensively on pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, which is an important problem for the poultry industry. Could you give us some information about your work on this subject and your goals? We have developed a product called FORC3® which contains endolysins specific to Clostridium perfringens. The formulation also contains a proprietary strain of microalgae in addition to other complementary natural ingredients. The goal is to ensure we manage Clostridium perfringens whilst also working to ensure the product generates an economic uplift for the farmer, even when the bacteria isn’t causing any significant production issues. Is your goal only to eliminate antibiotics? What are the other impacts of your solutions on the performance and health of animals? Ultimately, yes. But for us that means we have to recognise that our products have to generate both an economic performance uplift as well as control problematic bacteria. This means they have to generate a return on investment across an entire complex, not just at a problematic farm. Can you share some information about the ingredients/combination of the solutions you offer? Are your solutions completely natural? Endolysins are ubiquitous in nature. For our Clos-
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