Intervet's Bird Flu Vaccine Receives EU License
Posted : Fri, 11 May 2007 07:34:00 GMT
Author : Intervet
Category : PressRelease
Press Release News | Home
BOXMEER, The Netherlands, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Intervet, a leading animal health company, received approval for its birdflu (avian influenza) vaccine Nobilis(R) Influenza H7N1. As a result, Europenow has a licensed vaccine to protect birds against the H7 field strain. Lastyear the European Commission approved Nobilis(R) Influenza H5N2. With theregistration Intervet confirms its leading position in AI vaccines (includingH5N2, H5N6, H7N1, H7N7 and H9N2) to protect chickens and ducks againstdifferent strains of bird flu.
The CVMP (Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary use)highlighted the fact that the current concerns about avian influenza havemainly focused on H5 strains, but that the danger posed by H7 strains shouldnot be ignored. The world has been suffering from H7 outbreaks for sevenyears. The Netherlands (2003) and Italy (1999-2000) already reportedinfections of H7 avian influenza. Similar to H5N1, birds with the H7 avianinfluenza virus can infect humans, as has been demonstrated in theNetherlands in 2003. The outbreaks resulted in 30 millions birds being culledin the Netherlands, and 13 millions birds in Italy.
Paul van Aarle, Director Institutional Sales at Intervet said: "It isnecessary to be prepared for potential outbreaks caused by the H7 virus.Therefore Intervet developed this product and applied for Europeanregistration. Fortunately the CVMP/EMEA took the same position and reviewedthe vaccine under the accelerated registration procedure. This is anexcellent example of how industry and regulators can take their jointresponsibility towards society."
The vaccine protects against the different varieties of the highlypathogenic H7 field strain. If embedded in national control programs,vaccination contributes substantially to controlling bird flu and reducingthe circulation of the virus in the bird population. By reducing the amountof virus in the field, the chance on infection of people is reduced.
The vaccine contains inactivated virus, and has to be injected in orderto get a full immune response. Intervet research is investigating thepossibilities for a new vaccine type for mass application avoiding injection.
It is important to differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals.Birds vaccinated with H7N1 produce a different set of antibodies than thosebirds infected with other variants of the H7 field strain. These antibodiescan be monitored using specific diagnostic tests.
With a growing list of countries already using Nobilis(R) Influenzasuccessfully in official governmental avian flu control programs, Intervethas accumulated a wealth of experience in the use of vaccines against birdflu. The company has been working with national governments and internationalorganizations to advise on outbreak control and management as well asvaccination strategies aimed at helping bring avian influenza to a halt.Information on these strategies is available on: www.avian-influenza.com.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,104488.shtml
Posted : Fri, 11 May 2007 07:34:00 GMT
Author : Intervet
Category : PressRelease
Press Release News | Home
BOXMEER, The Netherlands, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Intervet, a leading animal health company, received approval for its birdflu (avian influenza) vaccine Nobilis(R) Influenza H7N1. As a result, Europenow has a licensed vaccine to protect birds against the H7 field strain. Lastyear the European Commission approved Nobilis(R) Influenza H5N2. With theregistration Intervet confirms its leading position in AI vaccines (includingH5N2, H5N6, H7N1, H7N7 and H9N2) to protect chickens and ducks againstdifferent strains of bird flu.
The CVMP (Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary use)highlighted the fact that the current concerns about avian influenza havemainly focused on H5 strains, but that the danger posed by H7 strains shouldnot be ignored. The world has been suffering from H7 outbreaks for sevenyears. The Netherlands (2003) and Italy (1999-2000) already reportedinfections of H7 avian influenza. Similar to H5N1, birds with the H7 avianinfluenza virus can infect humans, as has been demonstrated in theNetherlands in 2003. The outbreaks resulted in 30 millions birds being culledin the Netherlands, and 13 millions birds in Italy.
Paul van Aarle, Director Institutional Sales at Intervet said: "It isnecessary to be prepared for potential outbreaks caused by the H7 virus.Therefore Intervet developed this product and applied for Europeanregistration. Fortunately the CVMP/EMEA took the same position and reviewedthe vaccine under the accelerated registration procedure. This is anexcellent example of how industry and regulators can take their jointresponsibility towards society."
The vaccine protects against the different varieties of the highlypathogenic H7 field strain. If embedded in national control programs,vaccination contributes substantially to controlling bird flu and reducingthe circulation of the virus in the bird population. By reducing the amountof virus in the field, the chance on infection of people is reduced.
The vaccine contains inactivated virus, and has to be injected in orderto get a full immune response. Intervet research is investigating thepossibilities for a new vaccine type for mass application avoiding injection.
It is important to differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals.Birds vaccinated with H7N1 produce a different set of antibodies than thosebirds infected with other variants of the H7 field strain. These antibodiescan be monitored using specific diagnostic tests.
With a growing list of countries already using Nobilis(R) Influenzasuccessfully in official governmental avian flu control programs, Intervethas accumulated a wealth of experience in the use of vaccines against birdflu. The company has been working with national governments and internationalorganizations to advise on outbreak control and management as well asvaccination strategies aimed at helping bring avian influenza to a halt.Information on these strategies is available on: www.avian-influenza.com.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,104488.shtml
