Distribution of Vaxxon SHS Live vaccine for avian metapneumovirus expected in early 2025, first focusing on turkey industry.
December 23, 2024
In a groundbreaking development for animal health and the poultry industry, Vaxxinova US announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the importation of a live avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) vaccine – Vaxxon SHS – into the U.S. market, marking a significant milestone in the fight against aMPV.
Vaxxon SHS is a lyophilized live attenuated metapneumovirus vaccine to protect against swollen head syndrome in poultry. Developed by Vaxxinova Italy, the company stated this vaccine has demonstrated exceptional efficacy and safety through rigorous testing and evaluation.
"This landmark approval is a testament to our commitment to advance animal health and meet the needs of our customers,” said managing director Brian Harberts, spokesperson for Vaxxinova. "The USDA’s decision marks an important milestone for the U.S. turkey and poultry industry, which have been devasted by aMPV. As a result of the collaboration with industry organizations such as National Turkey Federation, poultry producers and the USDA, Vaxxinova US is now able to offer the same vaccine to the U.S. market that Vaxxinova Italy has been providing to customers for the past 20-plus years.”
Dr. Dan Domingo, senior poultry technical service veterinarian at Vaxxinova, stated, “In addition to good biosecurity, the use of live attenuated virus vaccines, followed by administration of inactivated (killed) virus vaccines, have been successfully used to control avian metapneumovirus, especially in long-lived chickens and turkeys. Live vaccines have the ability to stimulate both systemic and local immunity in the respiratory tract.”
Additionally, Domingo noted, “Attenuated live virus vaccines for aMPV prime the birds for the effective use of inactivated vaccines.”
Vaxxinova said it is honored to collaborate with USDA, its international Vaxxinova colleagues around the world and other key stakeholders to bring this innovative solution to the U.S. market.
Distribution of Vaxxon SHS Live vaccine is expected to commence in early 2025, first focusing on the needs of the turkey industry. Additionally, Vaxxinova will have an inactivated autogenous aMPV vaccine available for U.S. producers to provide the live vaccine priming and Inactivated boost the industry has been hoping to have available.
In a statement issued following the news, the National Turkey Federation (NTF) said it “welcomes the USDA’s approval of importation of a commercial modified live avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) vaccine, a massive advancement in protecting U.S. turkey flocks against aMPV. This development underscores our industry’s commitment to ensuring the health and productivity of our nation’s commercial turkey population. We encourage the USDA to continue its work to ensure additional importation and development of aMPV vaccines.”
NTF serves as the national advocate for the U.S. turkey industry, representing America’s turkey farmers and processors as well as industry partners.
Vaxxinova, with headquarters in Nijmegen, Netherlands, is a global animal health company specializing in disease and performance management of production animals. The company has research and development, production and diagnostic facilities in Brazil, Chile, Germany, Italy, Japan, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway and the U.S. Vaxxinova US manufacturers and markets both licensed and autogenous vaccines supporting the cattle, poultry and swine markets, with locations in Willmar and Worthington, Minn.
Vaxxinova is part of family-owned, Germany-based EW Group, which specializes in the field of genetics, diagnostics, nutrition and health.
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