Peter Sutovsky, PhD, Dr.h.c.
Fertilization
Male infertility in humans
Male fertility in livestock
species
 Assisted Reproductive
Technologies/Therapy
(ART)
 Improvement of Artificial
Insemination (AI)
 Tech Transfer & Startups




Increases reproductive
efficiency

Limits spread of infectious
diseases

Disseminates genes of
bulls/boars with superior
production traits
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

Poor semen quality

High sperm number needed per AI
dose

Poor sperm survival during processing
(freezing), storage & distribution
reduces pregnancy rates after AI

Simple, cheap additive that
increases sperm survival
during semen processing and
storage, and after sexing,
freezing and thawing

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

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

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
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

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Semen sexing

Magnetic-based semen
nanopurification

Timed sperm release in
female reproductive tract
(SpermVital gel)
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

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Proprietary IP (US patent issued,
international patents pending)

PPi is detectable in competitors’ product by
routine lab analysis

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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
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)

Thank you
SutovskyP@missouri.edu