Bayer intensifies research for diagnostic kit for classic FMD vaccine
Results of multi-year research program expected in autumn
Bayer has extended its existing research contract with the Federal Research Center for Virus diseases of Animals(BFAV) covering the development of a test which would make it possible to differentiate between vaccinated and infected animals using the currently available inactivated Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines. Results from the multi-year study, which will lead the way to practical application, are expected in autumn.
The goal of the research was, first of all, to clarify the difference between antibody formation in vaccinated animals on the one hand and infected animals on the other. This work, for the most part, has been completed and can be used as the basis for developing a diagnostic kit. Bayer filed for an appropriate patent covering such kits back in 1997.
Following its successful EU registration of a marker vaccine against classic swine fever, Bayer is also searching for a marker FMD vaccine. At the same time the company is looking into whether a vaccine can be developed that would be equally effective against the various serum types of the FMD virus. "The successful development of a general FMD marker vaccine which covers all virus strains would mean that different virus strains and vaccines would not have to be kept in store," said Professor Horst Geilhausen, Bayer´s animal health expert."In addition, the certainty of having an appropriate vaccine in the case of an outbreak of the disease would be greatly increased and vaccination could be started without delay.
"As a worldwide leading company in the development of marker technology for animal vaccines, Bayer has access to considerable know-how. Whether the company increases the research investment for the development of marker vaccines against Foot and Mouth Disease depends of course on the European Union´s decision on future vaccination policy," Geilhausen said. Clear political signals to drop the current Non-Vaccination-Policy would make the development of a new generation of marker vaccines more favorable. Within the scope of an agreed "Bank Contract" with the German regional states covering a vaccine reserve against Foot and Mouth disease, relevant fundamental research was conducted during the past ten years and with this the basis was laid for the research results achieved to date.
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