About Us
Developing Animal health vaccines and supplements to support commercial animals and sensitive wildlife species.
OUR Relationships
We seek to equip our clients with knowledge, tools and products to best serve their herds or customers.
OUR PEOPLE
Continue to provide an exceptional service to advance the health of animals.
Who are we?
Founded 32 years ago, Design Biologix began its journey on the CSIR campus, where our laboratories initially served the cattle feedlot industry. Over the years, our focus has expanded significantly to support a far broader spectrum of commercial livestock and sensitive wildlife species. Today, our work spans cattle, sheep, goats, the aquaculture industry, and a range of wildlife species, including rhinoceros, sable, lion, cheetah, and wild dog, as well as select exotic species such as seahorses, coatimundis, lemurs, and fennec foxes.
As our scope has grown, so too has our capacity. Annual vaccine production has increased from approximately 0.7 million doses to 45 million doses, supported by substantial growth in technically advanced equipment, infrastructure, expanded facilities, cold-chain storage, and specialised personnel. In parallel, we have expanded our international distribution and logistics network capabilities.
With continued expansion, Design Biologix outgrew its facilities at the CSIR and has now fully relocated to its new headquarters in the Rigel building. Our state-of-the-art aseptic manufacturing facility positions us for further growth, enabling increased production capacity as the facility is completed. Importantly, this new environment allows us to align with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, which the Registrar under Act 36 of 1947 is in the process of implementing through legislation. These standards ensure that injectable products registered under Act 36 of 1947 are manufactured in facilities that meet internationally recognised quality and safety requirements.
Design Biologix’s success is made possible by the remarkable individuals who make up our entire Design family. Our collective work ethic, passion, skill, and commitment at every stage of the design, development, and manufacturing process result in high-quality products that our customers trust and depend on.
We remain committed to supporting the critically important animal health sector within our country, and beyond our borders, across agricultural industries, for years to come.
What do we do?
We develop, register and manufacture vaccines specifically designed for the prophylactic control of diseases mostly locally in Southern Africa. Our passion is the prevention and control of animal diseases that are unique to Southern Africa. Prevention of spread of some of these diseases to other continents has significantly broadened our market. We are proud to develop, register and manufacture supportive injectable multi-mineral supplements for cattle, sheep and goats for prevention, maintenance or correction of diagnosed deficiencies.
Design Biologix’s primary focus is on the animal and how we can support them through innovative solutions with our products. Supporting the veterinarians and farmers with solutions driven by compassion and responsibility from snout to tail. Due to this ethos our collaboration with vets aids us in educating and supporting the farmers and their animals towards a more holistic animal health care system, for a sustainable farming future in Southern Africa.
How did it all begin?
In 1994 three dedicated professionals (Pieter Smuts, Karen Nel and George Gaenssler) conceptualised and established Design Biologix as a commercial animal health vaccine developer and manufacturer.
We started the operations of the company in one tiny lab at the CSIR in Pretoria, with the oldest, most affordable equipment that could do the job. We manufactured one product, an intra-dermally administered pasteurellosis vaccine, Pastvac, for Dr Jan Marnewick (the vet-father of feedlots in South Africa), to reduce the incidence of shipping fever in calves.
Sadly, Pieter Smuts died of Covid related complications in 2021 and thus Design Biologix is now independently run and owned by Karen Nel; and has no principals in the pharmaceutical industry.
Your Animals’ Health Matters
Connect with us for your personalised needs.