0
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health today announces that it has received marketing authorization from the European Commission on January 12, 2010 for a single-shot vaccination schedule of its PORCILIS® PCV vaccine against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infections.The new approval allows to vaccinate with 1 dose of 2 mL in pigs from an age of 3 weeks onwards (known as the 1 – 2 – 3 approach) in case of low to medium levels of maternal antibodies against PCV2 and also to include reduction of mortality as additional indication. This new single-shot application for PORCILIS PCV will add flexibility in use to the currently available dosage scheme of this vaccine that has been available in Europe since April 2009.
Based on the original and complementary data presented the Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) adopted a positive opinion after it had concluded that the quality, safety and efficacy of PORCILIS PCV for the addition of a single shot administration and the inclusion of the indication for reduction of mortality were considered to be in accordance with the requirements of Council Directive 2001/82/EC, as amended, and that the benefit-risk balance was favorable.
Major characteristics of PORCILIS PCV are that: (1) it contains the Cap-2 subunit antigen coded by ORF2 and therefore induces strong immunity against PCV2 infection; (2) it is combined with XSolve, an adjuvant offering immunity until the end of the finishing period; and (3) is able to break through of all levels of maternally-derived antibodies in piglets depending on the vaccination schedule used.
Infection with PCV2 is known to cause a variety of syndromes in pigs, together known as Porcine Circo Virus Disease (PCVD). Symptoms may include clinical signs such as weight loss or failure to grow, enlarged lymph nodes, difficulty in breathing, pale skin and jaundice.
* Fort M, Sibila M, Perez-Martin E, Nofrarias M, Mateu E, Segales J. One dose of a porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) sub-unit vaccine administered to 3-week-old conventional piglets elicits cell-mediated immunity and significantly reduces PCV2 viremia in an experimental model. Vaccine 2009;27:4031-4037
