January 20, 2020

Ceva to help Vietnam develop new vaccines for ASF, FMD

France's Ceva Santé Animale has signed a couple of agreements with the animal health department of the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (MARD) for the research and development of new African swine fever (ASF) and foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccines. ASF and FMD affect pigs and cattle, respectively.

According to the animal healthcare company, the agreements, signed last Thursday, Jan. 16, support MARD's disease-control initiatives during a period of unprecedented challenge following the outbreak of ASF throughout Asia and some parts of Europe.

Ceva, which has had operations in Vietnam for over 12 years, stressed the importance of the Southeast Asian country's livestock sector, which has grown rapidly over the last decade, thanks to strong growth in both income and population.

The agreements include:

-- A technology transfer collaboration aimed at developing more effective local FMD vaccines, specifically adapted to the local epidemiology; and

-- A scientific collaboration with Vietnam for ongoing vaccine R&D programmes targeting ASF control.