1. Peter Sutovsky, PhD, Dr.h.c.

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

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

4. 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

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

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

7.  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

8.  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 

9. 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

11.  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

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

13.  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

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

15.  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

16.  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)

17. Thank you SutovskyP@missouri.edu SutovskyP@missouri.edu