November 27, 2018

ECO Animal Health, University of Georgia sign poultry vaccine development deal

ECO Animal Health Ltd (ECO), a wholly owned subsidiary of ECO Animal Health Group plc,  announced in mid-November 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 the UK-based 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 make 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 GBP500 million (US$641 million) annually. We are delighted to have entered into this collaboration with UGA and expect that further innovative developments will follow".

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"Although Mycoplasma control programmes are often based on biosecurity, early detection, quarantine and elimination of positive flocks, vaccination can be a very effective option in some circumstances," Professor Naola Ferguson-Noel, a researcher in the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, commented.

"I do think a vaccine is within reach."

- ECO Animal Health Groupa