The animal health company Zoetis is to seek USDA approval for a PEDv vaccine according to a report in the National Pig Association’s Producer Brief.
It’s believed the company will ask for a conditional license to apply before the end of this year. That would allow it to be used on US farms while tests continue.
The move comes almost exactly six months after Zoetis entered into a research partnership with Iowa State University (ISU) to identify and test a vaccine candidate to help control porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in the US. Welcomed by both parties at the time, the partnership was presented as a firm statement of joint-commitment to “fight this devastating virus”.
Zoetis Inc. also issued their financial results earlier this week, covering the second quarter of 2014, revealing a 4% increase on Q2, 2013 at a total revenue of $1.2 billion.Â
Zoetis Chief Executive Officer Juan Ramón Alaix, commented: “We benefited from positive economic conditions for livestock producers versus the year-ago quarter, especially in the US, Canada and Brazil. This performance helped offset the impact of the PED virus in swine and slower growth in companion animal products.”
Later, focusing specifically on farm livestock products, he added: “Revenue (Q2) in the US was $459 million, an increase of 5% compared to the second quarter of 2013. Sales of livestock products grew 10% with contributions across cattle, poultry and swine. Cattle products showed a significant increase based on improved market conditions from the year-ago quarter. Poultry product sales grew, benefiting from new vaccines and growth in medicated feed additives. Swine products benefited from continued growth in new products, tempered by the effect of PEDv.”