Merial launches improved version of horse flu vaccine ProteqFlu

Merial has announced the UK launch of a new and updated version of ProteqFlu that offers a more comprehensive mechanism of action.

It is the first and only fully updated equine influenza vaccine that contains both a clade 1 and clade 2 antigen, offering protection against the latest Florida clade 2 strain, known as Richmond 07.

Moreover, it is the only vaccine of its kind that is fully compliant with the latest 2014 World Organisation for Animal Health-recommended equine influenza viral strains.

The drug uses a non-replicative recombinant canarypox vector expressing the equine flu virus haemagglutinin, thanks to its ability to induce a strong cellular immunity.

Herve Poulet, Merial's head of biodevelopment and bioresearch, said: "Merial has developed strong and unique expertise in the development of non-replicative recombinant canarypox virus-vectored vaccines for various species and diseases."

This comes after Merial purchased the equine products Legend/Hyonate and Marquis from Bayer HealthCare last month, further broadening its portfolio in this important area.