Verovaccines Achieves Full Protection of Target Animals Against Viral Challenge in its 4th Animal Vaccine Program
(08.03.2021) Verovaccines GmbH, a company specializing on the development of next-generation, multivalent yeast vaccines for animals, has achieved proof-of-concept in its fourth vaccine program.
The trial, which targeted an undisclosed chicken pathogen, was conducted in cooperation with the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany.
The vaccine belongs to a novel type of yeastbased subunit vaccines, which are designed for excellent efficacy and allow for the coexpression of different antigens in a single yeast strain. The Company´s vaccines can be used against a variety of pathogens in different animal species.
Verovaccines´ new vaccine candidate showed for the first time that chicken progeny could be protected via generation of maternal antibodies after immunization of hens. Hens were immunized by subcutaneous injection with Verovaccine’s yeastbased vaccine.
All progeny chicks were fully protected against subsequent infection by the corresponding pathogen. This remarkable result was achieved with the first prototype version of a novel, inactivated, yeastbased subunit vaccine and underlines the high potency of this novel vaccine class. In addition, it extends the usability of such vaccines to the poultry layer market.
Verovaccines develops novel animal vaccines using a proprietary technology platform based on the milk yeast Kluyveromyces lactis. In several previous vaccine tests, proof-of-concept in terms of immunogenicity / protection from infection was achieved in pig, cattle and chicken.
Verovaccines´ vaccines are highly efficacious and easy to combine and use. Manufacturing is very costeffective and safe. The dried whole yeast material is thermostable and can be stored without the need of a cold chain.
These properties represent important unique selling points on the international vaccine market. The application of the technology platform offers urgently needed solutions for a large number of infectious diseases in animals.
"These novel results are not only a further validation of our platform, but also extend its usability in the poultry sector." said Dr. Hanjo Hennemann, Managing Director of Verovaccines.
Prof. Dr. Sven-Erik Behrens, Managing Director of Verovaccines, added: "This new vaccine will be used as a component of a novel combination vaccine to reduce the use of antibiotics in poultry farming."
"We were positively surprised that even the first prototype of this new vaccine provided full protection to the chicks via maternal antibodies by immunizing the laying hens," added Prof. Dr. Silke Rautenschlein, Director of the Clinic for Poultry at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover.
