December 16, 2009

Swine flu animal vaccine gets USDA nod

Pfizer Animal Health swine flu vaccine, pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1), has been approved by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for vaccination of healthy swine, including pregnant sows and gilts, against SIV subtype H1N1.

Pfizer Animal Health became the first USbiologics manufacturer to receive a USDA conditional license for this new vaccine. Earlier this year, the USDA provided a master seed of the pH1N1 strain to multiple manufacturers in anticipation of potential transmission in swine herds. Producers today have not detected widespread transmission of the pH1N1 strain within swine herds.

Pfizer Animal Health has built an adequate inventory of this new vaccine to ensure supply in key pork-producing states. Local use of the new pH1N1 vaccine requires the approval of state veterinarians and Pfizer Animal Health is working to achieve state-by-state approvals.

Pfizer director of veterinary services Steve Sornsen explains that serologic studies in pigs vaccinated with this vaccine showed an increase in antibody titers against the pH1N1 strain.

Pfizer Animal Health's new vaccine is a freeze-dried preparation containing the A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) isolate and requires a 2-mL dose and a booster after three weeks. The new vaccine is available in 50-dose and 250-dose sizes.

Sornsen also said that the new conditionally-licensed pH1N1 vaccine adds another valuable swine flu management tool to Pfizer Animal Health's FluSure XPâ„¢ Defense System toolbox.