May 31, 2007

Europe awards pig vaccine technology patent to Australia's Imugene

Australian animal health firm Imugene has got the nod from Europe for patent protection for its Porcine Adenoviral Delivery Vector technology.

The Porcine Adenoviral Delivery Vector was the core technology behind all Imugene's pig vaccines including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) vaccine candidates entering further trials in June this year.

The company said it had patent protection for the Porcine Adenoviral Delivery Vector technology in both Europe and the US, in addition to other major pig producing countries.

The grant would provide "protection in the world's highest volume and value pig product markets," assures Imugene.

Imugene specializes in commercializing animal health products for production animals including pigs and poultry. The company owns the worldwide rights to the Fowl Adenoviral Vector Delivery System for poultry and the Porcine Adenoviral Vector Delivery System for pigs.

Imugene has also licensed the Poultry Productivity Enhancer, the first product based on the delivery system.