Uruguayan startup Scaffold Biotech, supported by the LAB+ initiative of the Pasteur Institute of Montevideo, has announced preliminary results from a field evaluation of a candidate vaccine against the cattle tick, a major animal health challenge with significant impacts on livestock production in Uruguay and across the region.
The pilot trial, launched following development of the vaccine formulation in 2025, was conducted on 10 farms across seven departments of the country. Approximately 3,000 cattle were vaccinated, while another 1,000 animals served as a control group.
According to data released by the technical team, the vaccine formulation was well tolerated by the cattle, with no vaccination-related adverse effects detected. In addition, vaccinated animals developed a tick-specific immune response, confirming the candidate vaccine’s ability to trigger a biological defense against the parasite.
The company also reported “encouraging evidence” during the study, including reduced tick infestations in some vaccinated animals and a decrease in the parasite’s reproductive capacity.
The results will now be used to refine the formulation and further validate its performance before moving toward potential commercial-scale production. Project leaders said the data generated will help improve the vaccine’s development and strengthen the design of future evaluations, advancing toward a tool that is “safe, effective, and practical” for livestock producers.
Scaffold Biotech noted that this milestone marks progress in an innovation process that requires ongoing evaluation, evidence generation, and iterative improvements. The project will continue with a new phase focused on optimizing and validating the candidate vaccine to enhance its effectiveness and support the development of sustainable alternatives for controlling cattle ticks.
