Merial and GenVec to collaborate on vaccine development

Merial is entering into collaboration with GenVec on the development of new vaccine products for foot-and-mouth disease.

The animal health company is to develop and commercialise GenVec's proprietary adenovector technology, which allows vaccines to be produced cost-effectively without needing to use live or killed virus materials.

Merial will take responsibility for all costs relating to the development of these new vaccines, while GenVec will be entitled to receive milestone payments and royalties.

It will help to strengthen Merial's current market-leading position in the foot-and-mouth vaccine market, in which the company stands as the world's largest manufacturer across all key territories.

Robert Nordgren, global head of biological research and development for Merial, said: "Merial sees great potential for GenVec's technology to positively impact the way that animal vaccines are produced and developed."

Merial will soon merge with Intervet/Schering-Plough to create a new company called Merial-Intervet, with the process expected to be completed during the first quarter of this year.