Novartis Animal Health gains rights to develop innovative new vaccine for prevention of Pancreas Disease in farmed salmon

Novartis Animal Health, Inc. has entered into an agreement with Intervet/Schering-Plough that grants exclusive rights to Novartis to potentially commercialize a new Pancreas Disease (PD) vaccine for use in farmed salmon.

The license deal allows Novartis Animal Health to continue development of its new PD vaccine, which uses the same innovative technology as the Novartis Apex IHN vaccine currently on the market in Canada.  Early studies have demonstrated high levels of efficacy and favorable levels of protection from the PD virus1. 

The Novartis vaccine candidate has the potential to offer salmon producers in Norway, UK and Ireland a unique alternative for managing this costly disease, which is prevalent in these salmon producing areas.  Additionally, the Novartis vaccine would support a broader approach to fish health and successful management of the disease, complementing the Norvax® Compact PD vaccine introduced by Intervet/Schering-Plough in 2008.

“The aquaculture business is a priority at Novartis Animal Health and it is a business that we will continue to invest in,” said George Gunn, Global Head of Novartis Animal Health.  “We are pleased to have reached an agreement that allows Novartis to develop a vaccine based on new, innovative technology and that potentially will enable salmon producers in Norway, UK and Ireland to better manage Pancreas Disease.”

Novartis Animal Health originally presented information on the new PD vaccine candidate in September 2009 at the European Association of Fish Pathologists meeting held in Prague.  More development work has followed, and Novartis is committed to working through the regulatory processes and requirements in its efforts to commercialize the vaccine.

“Our primary goal is to help fish farmers around the world improve the health and quality of their fish stocks by investing in the research programs that bring new and innovative solutions to the market,” said Gunn. “Novartis scientists will continue to present data on the vaccine and we also will continue to educate customers on the benefits the vaccine is expected to bring to the market.”