ECO Animal Health Ltd (ECO), a wholly owned subsidiary of ECO Animal Health Group plc, is pleased to announce that it has entered a second worldwide exclusive licensing deal with the Poultry Diagnostic & Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia (UGA).

This deal, which follows on from the one leading to the development of potential vaccines in the field of Mycoplasma gallisepticum, allows ECO to further develop, register and commercialize a live attenuated Mycoplasma synoviae vaccine for poultry developed by UGA. University researchers have concluded preliminary proof of concept efficacy and safety studies with this vaccine.

Peter Lawrence, Non-Executive Chairman of ECO Animal Health Group plc said:

“Mycoplasma synoviae is a bacterium that affects predominately commercial layers and breeding birds worldwide resulting in a 5 to 10 per cent loss in egg production and lower egg quality in affected flocks.”

UGA Professor Naola Ferguson-Noel, a researcher in the Poultry Diagnostic & Research Center said:

“We look forward to working with ECO Animal Health to help further develop this Mycoplasma synoviae vaccine into an approved product.”