Pestat hires CSIRO researcher to assist development

Early-stage biotech Pestat is developing biological control products based around controlling fertility of pest animals.

And the company has hired former CSIRO researcher Dr David Dall to be its general manager.

Pestat, based in Canberra, is the commercialisation arm of the CRC for Biological Control of Pest Animals, and was a recipient of one of the first Biotechnology Innovation Fund grants from the Federal government last year.

"The company is at a very early stage of development," Dall said. "But we are now in a high growth stage, and will be looking for investment partners in about 12-18 months."

Pestat's first animal control product is likely to be Mousestat-V, a virus designed to cause infertility in mice. The engineered virus produces a key mouse fertility protein, which should induce infertility in the animal by causing an immune response to the protein.

The fertility vaccine technology is one of the approaches being developed by the CRC. Dall said that products based on this technology were at an early stage of development.

"They are certainly some years away," he said. "There is considerable development to be done before they are ready."

As genetically modified viruses, the biological control agents would have to undergo a rigorous regulatory process before going on the market, he said.

"This work has received GMAC approval for development by the CRC," but Dall said the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator would also have to grant a license for field testing of the products.

In the meantime, Pestat is busy making recombinant proteins for the CRC and other researchers.

According to Dall, the company hopes to provide other researchers with custom proteins - "we are providing a service for the CRC and other selected users."

Dall, who was a project leader in CSIRO's Entomology Division, has a background in environmental law and recombinant virology.

"I am looking forward to the chance to help deliver some of this work from the CRC," he said.