Acceligen has announced publication in Antiviral Research of their groundbreaking work on breeding porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus resistant pigs.

Each year the PRRS virus causes substantial economic harm to pig farms on a global scale, from $664 million in direct losses in the United States to 1.5 billion Euros in Europe. Additionally, the animals may exhibit clinical signs inclusive of a phase of reduced appetite, fever, lethargy, depression and possibly respiratory distress or vomiting.

Effective treatments are currently unavailable and modified-live vaccines offer only partial protection from a rapidly spreading infection. There are various mitigation strategies if a swine operation is infected, including herd closure or complete depopulation. Both options can incur expenses and raise concerns about the well-being of the animals.

Acceligen believes that animals that nourish us deserve the best in health and well-being, and say the publication shows that company is meeting this challenge by uniquely breeding pigs resistant to PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2.

"It is very rare in swine disease research to have an idea evolve from a concept outlined on a piece of paper to a new product that will help producers eliminate a dreaded disease," said Professor Raymond Rowland at the University of Illinois, a senior author on the paper and a world-recognized expert on PRRSV. "None of this would have been possible without the partnership with Acceligen."

"The results of this research demonstrate that Acceligen's approach to breed PRRSV resistant pigs opens an alternative avenue for making this trait available to the entire industry," said Tad Sonstegard, co-author and CEO of Acceligen.

"The economic impact of utilizing PRRSV-resistant pigs may be positive and significant for the pork industry, eliminating the need for severe mitigation strategies and costly care. Ultimately, a healthier pig population contributes to a more sustainable and economically viable swine industry," said Rocco Morelli, CEO Recombinetics Inc.

Acceligen primarily functions in the livestock gene-editing industry, providing livestock improvements for animal health and well-being that in turn empower farmers to increase sustainable production.