ECO Animal Health and University of Georgia sign poultry vaccine development licencing deal
ECO Animal Health Ltd (ECO), a wholly owned subsidiary of ECO Animal Health Group plc, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a licensing deal with the Poultry Diagnostic & Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia (UGA).
This deal, at a cost of just over $1 million in phased payments of eight quarterly instalments over a two year period, allows ECO to license research related innovations leading to the development of potential vaccines in the field of Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a bacterium that can cause severe respiratory disease in poultry. A joint steering committee will meet monthly to review data, monitor progress and reach go/no-go decisions.
Peter Lawrence, Chairman of ECO Animal Health Group plc said, “Mycoplasma-related illnesses in poultry can be financially devastating to commercial poultry producers with global losses estimated at more than £500 million annually. We are delighted to have entered into this collaboration with UGA and expect that further innovative developments will follow”.
Professor Naola Ferguson-Noel, a researcher in the Poultry Diagnostic & Research Center said, “Although Mycoplasma control programs are often based on biosecurity, early detection, quarantine and elimination of positive flocks, vaccination can be a very effective option in some circumstances. I do think a vaccine is within reach.”
