The Biotech Start-Up Making Vaccines for Bees and Shrimp

In this episode of the Odd Lots podcast, hosts Tracy Alloway and Joe Weisenthal interview Annette Kleiser, CEO of Dalan Animal Health, about animal biotech, specifically focusing on vaccines for insects and invertebrates. Kleiser discusses the importance of protecting production animals like honeybees and shrimp, and explains how Dalan developed the world's first vaccine for honeybees, administered through a sugar paste fed to the queen bee, who then passes on immunity to her offspring. She also addresses the challenges of funding and commercializing novel biotech products in niche markets, noting the shift from angel investors to climate-focused VCs, and the company's progress in commercializing its bee vaccine and developing a shrimp vaccine to combat diseases like white spot.