Merck Animal Health announced that the USDA has approved the manufacturing and sale of Cambridge Technology’s experimental autogenous vaccine in the U.S. for the emerging and deadly avian metapneumovirus type B, impacting broilers, broiler breeders, layers and turkey breeders.

Cambridge Technologies received experimental autogenous license approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Veterinary Biologics for its vaccine to address metapneumovirus type B. 

Merck Animal Health entered into an agreement earlier this year with Cambridge Technologies, an independent custom vaccine company based in Worthington, Minn., to act as Cambridge’s exclusive sales agent for its innovative autogenous poultry vaccines in the U.S. Cambridge Technologies uses cutting-edge molecular diagnostic and manufacturing techniques to develop custom vaccine solutions to help veterinarians and poultry producers manage emerging disease challenges. As part of the agreement, Merck Animal Health provides its expansive customer reach.

“Avian metapneumovirus causes severe respiratory challenges leading to increased mortality rates and drops in egg production in affected flocks,” said Ivan Alvarado, D.V.M., innovation discovery livestock technical services for Merck Animal Health. “These novel vaccines developed by Cambridge Technologies stimulate immunity with the right antigenic concentration. Due to the use of oil and water emulsion, these vaccines have demonstrated low tissue reaction in birds following vaccination, which has been associated with less adverse effects on body weight gain and uniformity. We are pleased to be Cambridge’s exclusive sales agent for these vaccines.”

Cambridge Technologies vaccines are formulated and produced at its USDA-licensed, 37,000-square-foot manufacturing facility featuring state-of-the-art fermentation, virus production and fill suites.

“Through our agreement with Merck Animal Health, we are excited to bring our diagnostic and research and development expertise to deliver custom vaccines to help meet customer’s specific needs,” said Jon Mahlberg, chief operating officer for Cambridge Technologies. “Our team at Cambridge is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge vaccines to help address critical needs within the poultry industry.”