Trials to evaluate Perth biotechnology company Imugene Ltd's vaccine for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus have been completed and the best performing vaccine chosen for further testing, the company has announced.
PRRSV, also known as Blue-Ear Pig, disease causes reproductive failure in breeding stock and respiratory tract illness in young pigs, causing industry losses of up to $1 billion each year, according to Imugene.
The full text of a company announcement is pasted below
Trials to evaluate Imugene's PRRS vaccine have been completed at a specialist trial facility in the US. The trial aimed to determine the best of three PAV based vaccine candidates for progression in the development program. Preliminary results have been received and the best performing candidate from the trial has been chosen to proceed in the product development program. Further detailed results from post trial blood testing and analysis should be received this quarter and will assist design of the next trial.
The trials are part of Imugene's vaccine product development and follows successful previous trials of the PRRS vaccine in Australia. The current trial measured reductions in the PRRS virus load in the blood of PRRS challenged pigs for three weeks following infection as an important indicator of efficacy.
Imugene managing director Dr Warwick Lamb said, "Laboratory work is nearing completion on a final modification to the vaccine. Recent external scientific information indicated that by modifying part of the existing vaccine and adding an additional component the result may be a significant improvement in vaccine efficacy. These changes involve genetic engineering and are ideally suited to the vector based system of vaccine production. We commenced work on these modifications in July this year and we hope the completed candidates will enter the next animal trial early in 2008."
Imugene is continuing discussions with interested major international animal health companies with a view to possible licensing agreements.
PRRS is one of the most economically damaging pig diseases worldwide causing industry losses of up to $1 billion each year. Initially recognised in the US in 1987 the disease spread to Europe in 1990 and subsequently across most of the rest of the world. Australia is one of three countries considered PRRS-free.
The vaccine is based on Imugene's Porcine Adenoviral Delivery Vector that delivers selected genetic material to the pig to stimulate the immune system to protect against the PRRS virus.
