Applied LifeSciences & Systems Poultry Inc., a bio-systems company focused on improving animal health, has raised $8.9 million by selling equity, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Wednesday.

The $8.9 million was raised by three investors through series A funding with the date of the first sale near the beginning of March. The offering has $383,500 remaining to be sold for a total of $9.3 million.

The financing was co-led by Merck Animal Health and Mountain Group Partners. Oval Park Capital, a Raleigh-based early stage investment firm, also participated in the round.

The filing did not disclose what the company plans to do with the money.

The Raleigh-based company is focused on the development of new technologies to rapidly and individually vaccinate animals for protection against harmful diseases that impact the protein production industry.

Applied LifeSciences saw an opportunity in poultry meat as it is the No. 1 choice for meat protein globally. The company is developing a solution in response to current chicken vaccination methods.

The technology can detect, target and deliver vaccines to each and every chick, ensuring effective vaccination. This accuracy and consistency in the vaccination process boosts the natural immune response to diseases, improves overall flock health and provides for a cleaner, healthier chick.

The company was founded in 2015 by CEO Ramin Karimpour. He has over 30 years of experience in leading business, sales and research and development efforts of companies such as PerkinElmer, Pfizer Animal Health and Zoetis.

In November 2017, the company was awarded an $800,000 grant by The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. That story can be found here.

Companies relying on a Reg D exemption do not have to register their offering of securities with the SEC, but they must file what’s known as a Form D electronically with the SEC after they first sell their securities.