Lucas Huntimer joins as chief scientific officer of startup whose platform enables targeted herd- or flock-specific RNA vaccine development.
February 4, 2025
Genvax Technologies, a startup dedicated to bringing advances in RNA vaccine production to animal health, announced that it has closed its Series Seed Plus funding. This pivotal funding will accelerate the company’s path toward U.S. Department of Agriculture approval of its vaccines, enabling rapid response to foreign animal disease outbreaks and improving livestock health and profitability.
In addition, Genvax welcomed Dr. Lucas Huntimer as chief scientific officer to lead innovation and drive its product pipeline forward. Huntimer brings decades of expertise in vaccine development, regulatory strategy and sustainable solutions through leadership roles at Novartis, Elanco and Rumin8. Huntimer, a Ph.D. graduate in Immunobiology from Iowa State University, has consistently focused on advancing vaccine efficacy and managing complex research and development portfolios.
“We are thrilled that Lucas has joined our expanding team,” said Joel Harris, chief executive officer and co-founder of Genvax Technologies. “His leadership will be instrumental in achieving licensure for our first product and manufacturing facility while shaping the future of this novel RNA technology in animal health.”
Genvax’s proprietary RNA platform enables the rapid development of herd- or flock-specific vaccines matched precisely to the variant strain circulating in animal production operations. By inserting a specific transgene or “gene of interest” (GOI) matched to the variant strain into the platform, the RNA generates an antibody response without requiring the whole pathogen.
“The extraordinary threat of foreign animal diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), African swine fever and evolving variants of swine influenza calls for groundbreaking solutions,” said Harris. “For HPAI, our innovative vaccine could play a pivotal role in eradication efforts and strengthen global trade relationships.”
Huntimer added, “Genvax’s cutting-edge saRNA vaccine platform represents a breakthrough in addressing emerging animal diseases. Our rapid development capability allows us to pivot quickly in response to new threats, delivering targeted vaccines with unprecedented speed and precision. This technology will transform how we protect animal health and mitigate the risks posed by evolving pathogens.”
Genvax was founded in February 2021 by Joel Harris and Dr. Hank Harris. In August 2022, the company closed a Seed financing round worth $6.5 million in financial and research support, led by United Animal Health.
United Animal Health has been a key driver of Genvax’s mission to revolutionize animal health and led the financing with the aim of commercializing the technology in livestock, according to the announcement.
“At United Animal Health, we are committed to pioneering advancements that safeguard the future of animal agriculture,” said Dr. Doug Webel, president and CEO of United Animal Health. “Genvax’s RNA vaccines exemplify the type of innovation that will redefine health outcomes and strengthen global food security. By leveraging our research farms and expertise, we are well positioned to refine and commercialize these groundbreaking solutions.”
United Animal Health led the financing with support from Johnsonville Ventures, Iowa Farm Bureau’s Rural Vitality Funds, the Iowa Corn Growers Association and members of Ag Startup Engine. This coalition of investors spans the animal health, nutrition, feed and food processing industries, underscoring the transformative potential of Genvax’s technology in addressing emerging threats to the food supply chain.
Since its inception, Genvax, located in Ames, Iowa, has been at the forefront of developing next-generation RNA vaccines tailored to meet the evolving needs of the livestock industry.
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