MEDIA RELEASE – Koru Biotech Solutions Ltd. today announced the publication of a peer-reviewed study in Animals validating a novel milk biomarker that may significantly improve the detection and management of acute Gram-negative mastitis in dairy cows.
The study, “Pilot Study: Soluble LPS/IgG Milk Complexes in Relationship to Early Lactation Acute Mastitis in Dairy Cows”, identifies preformed soluble lipopolysaccharide/IgG (sLPS/IgG) immune complexes in milk as a measurable indicator linking mastitis severity to Gram-negative intramammary infections.
Investment Highlights
- Clear differentiation of acute mastitis: The sLPS/IgG assay demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy (AUC up to 0.97) in distinguishing acute mastitis from healthy and subclinical cows.
- Gram-negative specificity: Elevated sLPS/IgG levels were strongly associated with Gram-negative pathogens, including Escherichia coli, the primary drivers of severe mastitis cases.
- Inflammation-linked biomarker: sLPS/IgG levels correlated with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a marker of tissue damage and disease severity.
- Defensible IP position: The underlying technology forms part of patent application (PCT/NC2022/050136), now filed in AU, US, EU and NZ.
Addressing a Significant Industry Need
Acute mastitis remains one of the most costly diseases in the global dairy industry. Gram-negative infections are responsible for a disproportionate share of economic losses due to rapid onset, severe inflammation, production loss, and culling risk.
Current diagnostics rely heavily on microbiological culture, which may take 24–48 hours and does not directly quantify inflammatory impact. The sLPS/IgG assay offers a differentiated approach — detecting host-pathogen immune complexes that reflect both bacterial involvement and host defense.
This immune-complex–based diagnostic strategy positions Koru Biotech at the intersection of immunology and applied livestock diagnostics, creating potential for:
- Rapid on-farm decision-support tools
- Improved antimicrobial stewardship through pathogen-directed treatment
- Enhanced herd-level risk monitoring
- Platform expansion into additional infectious disease settings
“This publication validates a core component of our diagnostic platform,” said Dr Anton (Tony) Pernthaner, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Koru Biotech. “By measuring host immune responses to Gram-negative pathogens directly in milk, we are capturing disease biology in real time. That opens up opportunities not only in mastitis management, but more broadly in infection-linked diagnostics.”
Platform Potential
The study represents early-stage validation conducted in a commercial New Zealand dairy herd. While further multi-herd and larger cohort studies are planned, the data demonstrate proof-of-concept for a scalable diagnostic assay with clear biological specificity.
The technology leverages Koru’s proprietary ELISA-based detection system targeting LPS/IgG immune complexes — a platform that may be adaptable across animal health and, potentially, human infectious disease applications where endotoxin-driven inflammation is relevant.
About Koru Biotech Solutions Ltd.
Koru Biotech is a New Zealand biotechnology company developing immune-based diagnostic technologies that translate host-pathogen biology into practical disease detection tools. The company operates at the interface of translational immunology, veterinary health, and applied biotechnology, with a growing intellectual property portfolio and commercial development pathway.
Investor and Media Enquiries:
Koru Biotech Solutions Ltd.
Email: info@korubiotech.com
Website: www.korubiotech.com