ECO and University of Georgia sign poultry vaccine development licencing deal

19 November 2018

 

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.”