Veterinary Biotechnology
Bovine anaplasmosis causes an estimated US$ 3.24 billion in annual losses in Brazil. Existing vaccines carry critical safety and logistics limitations. Imunotick is developing an innovative peptide-based solution, in partnership with Instituto Butantan.
US$ 3.24B
in annual losses from bovine anaplasmosis in Brazil
238M
head in Brazil's cattle herd
4
patents registered in Brazil
Who we are
Butantan partnership since
2010
Imunotick is a Brazilian veterinary biotechnology company founded in 2017, focused on developing innovative vaccines for the livestock sector. Our origins trace back to 2010, when we initiated a partnership with Instituto Butantan — one of the institution's first public-private partnerships — to address one of the greatest health challenges in tropical livestock farming: the lack of safe, synthetic vaccines against tick-borne diseases.
Patents & intellectual property
Our technology platform is protected by four patents registered in Brazil: three directed at the bovine anaplasmosis vaccine and one for the SAMAP platform, with potential applications in other diseases.
Scientific partner
Instituto Butantan
One of Instituto Butantan's first public-private partnerships, built over more than a decade of collaborative research.
Technology platform
Anaplasmosis vaccine
Peptide-based vaccine candidate in advanced clinical development, with proven cellular immunity and demonstrated transfer of protection to calves via colostrum.
SAMAP platform
Self Adjuvant Multi Antigenic Platform — technology derived from anaplasmosis research, with potential applications in other vaccines. In development with Instituto Butantan.
Registered patents
4
in Brazil — bovine anaplasmosis and the SAMAP platform
The problem
Brazil has the world's largest commercial cattle herd — 238 million head — but bovine anaplasmosis prevents the full realization of its potential. Vaccines are available, but all are based on live attenuated strains, with serious safety, logistics, and dairy-sector limitations.
The productivity gap
Zebu breeds (Bos indicus) dominate Brazil's herd due to their natural resistance to tick-borne diseases — including anaplasmosis. But they produce 3 to 5 times less milk and fetch prices 30% lower on international markets than European breeds. Transitioning to higher-productivity breeds requires safe and effective anaplasmosis control.
US$ 3.24B
in annual losses caused by anaplasmosis in Brazilian livestock
Barros et al., Embrapa Gado de Corte, 2024The limitations of current vaccines
Available anaplasmosis vaccines are based on live attenuated strains — produced from animal blood. This imposes significant constraints: risk of transmitting other blood-borne pathogens, possibility of virulence reversion, strict cold-chain requirements (refrigerated vaccines have a shelf life of only 5 days), and restrictions on use in lactating cows due to safety concerns and withdrawal periods. Imunotick's peptide vaccine contains no live agents, eliminates these risks, and is safe for dairy herds.
A synthetic, safe, and stable vaccine against bovine anaplasmosis is one of the greatest unmet opportunities in tropical animal health — on a global scale.
The solution
Imunotick's vaccine candidate is based on an innovative peptide platform, developed over more than a decade of research in collaboration with Instituto Butantan. Its approach overcomes the limitations of conventional vaccines against intracellular pathogens such as Anaplasma marginale.
The peptide platform induces a robust cellular immune response — a critical differentiator for controlling intracellular pathogens like Anaplasma marginale, which evade defenses based on antibodies alone.
Vaccination of pregnant cows induces immunity that is transferred to the calf via colostrum, protecting newborns in their first weeks of life — the period of greatest vulnerability.
No chemical residues and no withdrawal periods — the vaccine allows full milk production to be maintained during and after vaccination, a critical requirement for the dairy segment.
Unlike acaricides, which combat the vector (tick), the vaccine targets the disease itself — protecting the animal even when vector control is imperfect or fails.
The technology is protected by patents registered in Brazil and has potential for extension to other tick-borne diseases, broadening its commercial application scope.
More than a decade of systematic research, with multiple clinical phases conducted in partnership with Instituto Butantan and validated under field conditions.
Research partner
Instituto ButantanHow we operate
Imunotick develops its vaccine candidate in partnership with Instituto Butantan and seeks a veterinary pharmaceutical partner to bring the technology to the global market. We are open to licensing, co-development, or strategic partnership models.
Scientific partner
Get in touch
Investors and industrial partners interested in the technology are welcome.
Imunotick Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico S.A.
Avenida Santo Amaro, 1047 – Suite 1008 – Vila Nova Conceição, 04505-001 – São Paulo – SP – Brazil
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