enjoy your xmas ham,for pork lovers
The bad news ;PRRS This disease causes impairment of reproductive function in sows as well as respiratory disease in growing pigs. Reproductive PRRS is associated with abortions, weak and stillborn piglets, early farrowing and a reduction in reproductive performance. Infected nursery piglets are weak and prone to secondary infections. Many farms infected with PRRS considered to be largely under control, have still to recover the reproductive performance they experienced before PRRS arrived in the UK.
Until now there has been no vaccine available to protect farmers from the reproductive losses associated with PRRS.
THE GOOD NEWS Imugene successfully trialed a world first protective marker vaccine for PRRS, a major pig disease. This success sparked commercial interest and consequent license negotiations with several multinational animal health companies which are continuing
Imugene’s successful trials completed in April 2004 demonstrated that our vector based PRRS vaccine prevented the disease in all vaccinated pigs. This disease is one of the most economically important pig diseases worldwide causing estimated annual losses of up to US$1 billion. As a result of a highly successful trial, several multinational animal health companies are reviewing our data for licensing opportunities. As this disease does not occur in Australia, Imugene intends to license the vaccine to a major international animal health company. Preliminary estimates indicate an effective PRRS vaccine would generate revenue of up to US$100-200 million per annum. If eradication programs are introduced, revenue could be as much as US$300- 400 million per annum. The total market size for a PRRS vaccine is difficult to estimate as the incidence of the disease is increasing.
