Trending...
- Federal indictments bring new scrutiny to SPLC practices and highlight the real‑world impact of its designations on nonprofit groups, including NCFM
- Could You Make a 2026 World Cup Squad? A New Free Tool Will Tell You Where You'd Sit on Any National Team's Bench in 90 Seconds
- Bangxing Silicone Revolutionizes Silicone Baby Product Partnerships: Low MOQ Support + VIP Long-Term Win-Win Programs
MORRISVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TARGAN (formerly Applied LifeSciences & Systems (ALSS)) announced today it has secured $35 million of Series C equity financing. The financing was co-led by Mountain Group Partners and NovaQuest Capital Management. Existing investors Merck Animal Health and Oval Park Capital also participated in the round. TARGAN integrates its proprietary technologies consisting of high-speed imaging, feature recognition, artificial intelligence, robotics, and microfluidics in a system currently developed for the commercial poultry industry. This system can individually and accurately vaccinate up to 100,000 chicks per hour against diseases such as coccidiosis, infectious bronchitis, and Newcastle disease. In addition, TARGAN has developed a unique and fully automated system that can determine the gender of individual chicks to allow separate sex rearing by poultry producers.
The Series C investment will allow TARGAN to accelerate the commercialization of its automated and individualized poultry vaccination and gender identification systems.
"From its conception, TARGAN's purpose has been to address the growing global demand for a healthier, more sustainable food supply through the development and application of novel technologies," said Ramin Karimpour, founder and CEO of TARGAN. "We are most delighted that our great progress has led to NovaQuest joining our existing investors in this series. With this round, we will launch our targeted, individual vaccination and gender sorting technologies for poultry. Precise bird vaccination enables poultry producers to protect each bird from harmful diseases and significantly reduces the reliance on chemicals, therapeutics, and antibiotics. Additionally, automated gender identification will allow for separate sex rearing that reduces feed cost and waste while optimizing bird nutrition."
"Merck Animal Health has supported TARGAN from the beginning of their journey. It is rewarding to see the team continue to grow and develop their groundbreaking technology for poultry customers around the world. We are pleased to continue to support the ongoing journey and partnership," said Stephen Murray, Lead, Merck Animal Health Ventures.
"We are very excited to continue to support TARGAN on its journey to help poultry producers be more efficient. The pandemic has only further highlighted the need to create technologies that reduce labor and improve bird health. TARGAN does this through a very innovative technology. Also, we are very happy to include NovaQuest in the investor syndicate. Their extensive experience in biotech investing will be very helpful as TARGAN progresses into full commercialization," said Rob Readnour, Managing Director at Mountain Group Partners.
"We are thrilled to co-lead the Series C round with an outstanding syndicate of investors. TARGAN's impressive technology and team are well-positioned to bring significant innovation to the hatchery, where poultry production starts," said Brian Axe, Managing Director at NovaQuest Capital Management.
"We are pleased to continue supporting the TARGAN team as they accelerate commercialization in the global poultry industry and explore new applications of their precision animal health technology platform," said Justin Wright-Eakes, Managing Partner at Oval Park Capital.
More on ncarol.com
Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP acted as legal counsel to NovaQuest. Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC acted as legal counsel to Mountain Group.
About TARGAN
Based in Morrisville, NC, TARGAN is a Biotechnology Systems company poised to transform animal protein production industries worldwide by bringing affordable, individualized care technologies to the market. World meat consumption is expected to double by 2050. The world's growing population along with the popularity of animal protein is responsible for the growth in meat consumption. The industry trend towards antibiotic-free production has led to producers' demand for novel solutions to improve health standards and vaccination procedures allowing for a similar level of productivity in the absence of antibiotics and other chemicals. TARGAN is bringing advanced technology solutions to the Poultry, Aquaculture, and Swine industries to address this demand. For more information, visit TARGAN.com
About the Investors
NovaQuest Capital Management
NovaQuest Capital Management, located in North Carolina's Research Triangle, is a life science investment firm with a specialization in biopharmaceuticals. Founded in 2010, and with more than $2.5 billion raised across four funds, NovaQuest provides tailored capital solutions that fund innovation in biopharmaceutical development and invests in compelling healthcare companies with products and technologies aimed at helping humans and animals live healthier, longer, more productive lives. Learn more at https://www.novaquest.com/.
Mountain Group Partners
Mountain Group Partners ("MGP") is an investor dedicated to investing in and actively guiding transformational businesses in the Life Sciences, Animal Health, and Technology sectors. Founded in 2002, MGP has invested in more than 50 companies in these sectors. MGP invests in seed- and early-stage companies. Within Life Sciences, the firm focuses on MedTech, Diagnostics, and Opportunistic Drug Development. MGP places a premium on those innovations that have existing intellectual property or a novel scientific foundation for building intellectual property. Animal Health investments focus on disruptive technologies that have a meaningful impact on global animal health and animal agriculture. Technology investments focus on business and healthcare technology, targeting those ideas with quantifiable development risk and a rapid path to market. For more information, visit www.mtngp.com.
More on ncarol.com
About Merck Animal Health
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we've been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world's most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Oval Park Capital
Oval Park Capital invests in early-stage deep tech companies with exceptional founders, operating in underserved markets, and commercializing disruptive technologies that solve costly problems in large, inefficient global industries. Oval Park strives to support traditionally underrepresented founders and places special emphasis on investments that have the potential to not only provide strong investment returns but also generate strong positive social and environmental impact. For more information, visit www.ovalpark.com.
Contacts
TARGAN Media Contact:
PR@targan.com
For NovaQuest:
Brian Person
NovaQuest Capital Management
+1 919-459-8628
brian.person@nqcapital.com
For NovaQuest media inquiries:
Philip Nunes
BackBay Communications
+1 617-391-0792
Phil.nunes@backbaycommunications.com
For Mountain Group:
+1 615-843-9100
For Merck Animal Health:
Jeanette Lewis
+973 294 0318
Jeanette.lewis@merck.com
For Oval Park:
info@ovalpark.com
The Series C investment will allow TARGAN to accelerate the commercialization of its automated and individualized poultry vaccination and gender identification systems.
"From its conception, TARGAN's purpose has been to address the growing global demand for a healthier, more sustainable food supply through the development and application of novel technologies," said Ramin Karimpour, founder and CEO of TARGAN. "We are most delighted that our great progress has led to NovaQuest joining our existing investors in this series. With this round, we will launch our targeted, individual vaccination and gender sorting technologies for poultry. Precise bird vaccination enables poultry producers to protect each bird from harmful diseases and significantly reduces the reliance on chemicals, therapeutics, and antibiotics. Additionally, automated gender identification will allow for separate sex rearing that reduces feed cost and waste while optimizing bird nutrition."
"Merck Animal Health has supported TARGAN from the beginning of their journey. It is rewarding to see the team continue to grow and develop their groundbreaking technology for poultry customers around the world. We are pleased to continue to support the ongoing journey and partnership," said Stephen Murray, Lead, Merck Animal Health Ventures.
"We are very excited to continue to support TARGAN on its journey to help poultry producers be more efficient. The pandemic has only further highlighted the need to create technologies that reduce labor and improve bird health. TARGAN does this through a very innovative technology. Also, we are very happy to include NovaQuest in the investor syndicate. Their extensive experience in biotech investing will be very helpful as TARGAN progresses into full commercialization," said Rob Readnour, Managing Director at Mountain Group Partners.
"We are thrilled to co-lead the Series C round with an outstanding syndicate of investors. TARGAN's impressive technology and team are well-positioned to bring significant innovation to the hatchery, where poultry production starts," said Brian Axe, Managing Director at NovaQuest Capital Management.
"We are pleased to continue supporting the TARGAN team as they accelerate commercialization in the global poultry industry and explore new applications of their precision animal health technology platform," said Justin Wright-Eakes, Managing Partner at Oval Park Capital.
More on ncarol.com
- Blank Space: The Unofficial Taylor Swift Tribute Brings Eras Tour Magic To Cities Across America
- Love Must Be the Guide: Live Good Shares a Message of Humanity, Compassion and Hope
- D.R. Crotzer Announces A New Science Fiction Book Series Exploring Life Energy, Dreams, and the Mystery of Existence
- Color Card Administrator Highlights Growing Enterprise Demand for Operational Infrastructure in Business Card Identity Governance
- American Properties Celebrates Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Heritage at South
Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP acted as legal counsel to NovaQuest. Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC acted as legal counsel to Mountain Group.
About TARGAN
Based in Morrisville, NC, TARGAN is a Biotechnology Systems company poised to transform animal protein production industries worldwide by bringing affordable, individualized care technologies to the market. World meat consumption is expected to double by 2050. The world's growing population along with the popularity of animal protein is responsible for the growth in meat consumption. The industry trend towards antibiotic-free production has led to producers' demand for novel solutions to improve health standards and vaccination procedures allowing for a similar level of productivity in the absence of antibiotics and other chemicals. TARGAN is bringing advanced technology solutions to the Poultry, Aquaculture, and Swine industries to address this demand. For more information, visit TARGAN.com
About the Investors
NovaQuest Capital Management
NovaQuest Capital Management, located in North Carolina's Research Triangle, is a life science investment firm with a specialization in biopharmaceuticals. Founded in 2010, and with more than $2.5 billion raised across four funds, NovaQuest provides tailored capital solutions that fund innovation in biopharmaceutical development and invests in compelling healthcare companies with products and technologies aimed at helping humans and animals live healthier, longer, more productive lives. Learn more at https://www.novaquest.com/.
Mountain Group Partners
Mountain Group Partners ("MGP") is an investor dedicated to investing in and actively guiding transformational businesses in the Life Sciences, Animal Health, and Technology sectors. Founded in 2002, MGP has invested in more than 50 companies in these sectors. MGP invests in seed- and early-stage companies. Within Life Sciences, the firm focuses on MedTech, Diagnostics, and Opportunistic Drug Development. MGP places a premium on those innovations that have existing intellectual property or a novel scientific foundation for building intellectual property. Animal Health investments focus on disruptive technologies that have a meaningful impact on global animal health and animal agriculture. Technology investments focus on business and healthcare technology, targeting those ideas with quantifiable development risk and a rapid path to market. For more information, visit www.mtngp.com.
More on ncarol.com
- Crosswalk Ministries USA Announces 2026 Child and Family Well-Being Conference in Stockbridge, Georgia
- Research reveals "The Borderless Pay Standard," a 48-point gap between multinational employers and workers on transparent pay expectations
- Global.ai Appoints Freedomtech Solutions as Specialist Partner for Agentic AI
- ASCLD Honors Jeremy Triplett with 2026 Briggs J. White Award
- BarnOps Launches Equine Facility Management Software with GPS Staff Tracking and Weather Alerts
About Merck Animal Health
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we've been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world's most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Oval Park Capital
Oval Park Capital invests in early-stage deep tech companies with exceptional founders, operating in underserved markets, and commercializing disruptive technologies that solve costly problems in large, inefficient global industries. Oval Park strives to support traditionally underrepresented founders and places special emphasis on investments that have the potential to not only provide strong investment returns but also generate strong positive social and environmental impact. For more information, visit www.ovalpark.com.
Contacts
TARGAN Media Contact:
PR@targan.com
For NovaQuest:
Brian Person
NovaQuest Capital Management
+1 919-459-8628
brian.person@nqcapital.com
For NovaQuest media inquiries:
Philip Nunes
BackBay Communications
+1 617-391-0792
Phil.nunes@backbaycommunications.com
For Mountain Group:
+1 615-843-9100
For Merck Animal Health:
Jeanette Lewis
+973 294 0318
Jeanette.lewis@merck.com
For Oval Park:
info@ovalpark.com
0 Comments
Latest on ncarol.com
- Robert J. Bradshaw's AYE is a Gripping Dual Reality Thriller Exploring the Increasingly Blurred Line Between Humanity and Technology
- Bangxing Silicone Revolutionizes Silicone Baby Product Partnerships: Low MOQ Support + VIP Long-Term Win-Win Programs
- SteelTree Announces Launch of Its Operational Decision Intelligence Service
- Advanced AI Capabilities Reflected by Upcoming Company Name and Stock Symbol Change for Evolving Pre-Owned Boat Dealer: Off The Hook YS: N Y S E: OTH
- AI-Driven Defense Expansion, Autonomous Systems and Israeli Aerospace Manufacturing Platform: VisionWave Holdings (N A S D A Q: VWAV)
- AI Predicts the Most Likely 2026 FIFA World Cup Winner
- The AI Production Shift: Why Game Development Is Entering Its Most Accelerated Phase
- World-First AI Humanoid Robot Debuts on Cherie Barber's Ground-breaking Australian Reno Show
- New Survey Reveals America's Most Feared Bridges for Cyclists — Golden Gate Tops the List
- Raymond Lavine, Extended Care Benefits Advisor and Author, to Appear on National Television Series Moving America Forward
- NaturismRE Launches Structured Nudism & Naturism Encyclopedia, Aiming to Reframe Public Understanding
- AI Is Closing the Gap Between Offshore Virtual Assistants and Onshore Staff
- CCHR Highlights Concerns Over Coercive and Failed $140 Billion Mental Health Practices at Psychiatric Convention
- Avery Headley Leads Major Stabilization and Modernization Initiative Across Bronx Affordable Housing Portfolio
- America's Boating Channel® Releases New Video Explaining Give-Way and Stand-On Vessel Navigation Rules
- NewReputation's AI Sentiment Analysis Tool Reaches 2,500 Users as Businesses Demand Clearer Brand Intelligence
- Sunday Best Winner Tasha Page-Lockhart Headlines A'Leurer's 1-Year Anniversary Celebration in Greensboro
- CAPO Supply Announces Opening of Second Location in New Castle, Pennsylvania
- $224 Billion Growing Market in Life Settlements Presents Major Opportunity for New Policy Acquisition Business Plan: DLT Resolution Stock Symbol: DLTI
- New from Regal House Publishing, Margery and Me, based on the true story of psychic Margery Crandon