Imugene has several developed and patented vaccines, three of...

Imugene has several developed and patented vaccines, three of which are licenced to the world’s biggest animal health company Merial, a joint venture between Aventis and Merck, and others are under negotiation. But Imugene’s jewel in the crown is the new Receptor Mimic Technology – licence acquired some six weeks ago, that competes directly with Chemeq’s ecoli product in the area of pig health. Imugene resembles Chemeq in 2001, which traded at around 45c when its ‘animal intestinal antiseptic’ first came to notice in 2001. Chemeq hit $2.80 the next year, $8 in June 2003 and is currently trading at over $5, with its 20 tonne per annum factory under way after years of successful testing and strong global demand. Size of targeted markets *The global market for pig animal health is worth around $US3.5 billion per annum, with the sector targeted by the Imugene products worth about $US1.5 billion per annum. Within that market Imugene’s E. coli product, which competes directly with Chemeq’s E. coli product, targets a market worth $US450 million. *The poultry products market is worth around $US3.2 billion with Imugene targeting a $US1.2 billion market. *Imugene’s chicken productivity enhancer market is worth about $US1 billion. *Other Imugene vaccine products are worth around $US300 million. *Imugene’s flea control vaccine research is targeting a global market for flea control products worth in excess of $US1.5 billion per annum. An efficient biological vaccine has the potential to immediately gain a large share of this market from the current over the counter chemical treatments.