NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mid-Atlantic Bio Angels (MABA) announces today that VakSea, Inc. was named “Best in Show” at MABA's inaugural 1st Pitch Life Science Baltimore event on October 26, 2016 at the Institute for Marine and Environmental Technology Center (IMET – http://imet.usmd.edu) located in Baltimore, MD. VakSea is a Baltimore-based company developing oral vaccines against nervous necrosis virus in aquaculture.
“We are very proud of our technology and believe that it has tremendous potential to improve conditions within aquaculture,” commented Dr. Nick Hammond of VakSea, Inc. “We are extremely grateful for the recognition we received from Mid Atlantic Bio Angels and the panel, and look forward to continuing to develop our technology and our business model using the learnings from this event.”
The company is focused on developing oral vaccines for commonly occurring viruses in aquaculture. Large farmed fish are subject to a wide range of diseases because of their unnatural close quarters. Illness spread by these conditions results in as much as a billion dollars in losses each year. VakSea’s unique approach to manufacturing oral vaccines is intended to provide a cost effective solution.
"The three 1st Pitch presenters were compelling and described very different entrepreneurial opportunities to a packed house. I have no doubt that the challenging questions from the audience and the panel of investors led to considerable learning by all in attendance,” said Paul Silber, founding principal of Blu Venture Investors, and a panelist at the event. “Dr. Nick Hammond's pitch for startup VakSea was selected as the audience favorite and winner; the company is working on an innovative oral vaccine for use in aquaculture."
About 1st Pitch Life Science
At a 1stPitch event (http://www.1stpitchlifescience.com), early stage life sciences and healthcare companies make a 15-minute presentation to a panel of experienced life science investors and consultants, followed by a 15-minute audience Q&A. However, where actual investors would then ask the presenting company to leave the room during their subsequent discussion, presenting companies at 1st Pitch are invited to hear the panel constructively critique the company's presentation, business model and perceived viability in the market.
About MABA
Mid Atlantic Bio Angels (http://bioangels.net) is a group of active angel investors, which meets in New York City monthly (except July and August) solely to hear from pre-screened early-stage life science companies. MABA members consist of individuals from Delaware to Massachusetts with significant expertise and experience in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, including former and current corporate executives, doctors and Ph.D. scientists with product development backgrounds, successful medical entrepreneurs and analyst/investors focused on life sciences. MABA's goal is to create an environment where the depth of investors' knowledge coupled with the pre-screening of presenting companies enhances the potential for meaningful investment.