Intervet and Schering-Plough launch new antibiotic

Intervet and Schering-Plough Animal Health have launched a new antibiotic formulation for the treatment and prevention of bacterial pneumonia.

Named Nuflor Minidose, it is 50 per cent more concentrated, but a less viscous solution of florfenicol.

Rosemary Booth, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health livestock vet adviser, said the drug delivers rapid efficacy but at a lower dose rate for larger animals.

She added the product is effective against main bacterial causes of pneumonia and is set to offer producers an easier route to batch treatment once the presence of disease is assured.

This will help to control spread of pneumonia in healthy calves, Ms Booth continued.

The news comes as Schering-Plough announced it will webcast its research and development update meeting for analysts and portfolio managers being held on November 24th.

Meanwhile, the company said a Boceprevir phase II study showed high rate of sustained response with 28 and 48-week regimens in genotype one treatment-naive hepatitis C patients.

In combination with peginterferon and ribavirin, it markedly increased sustained virologic response (SVR) rates alongside 28 weeks of therapy and nearly doubled SVR with 48 weeks of treatment.

Based in Kenilworth, US, the company employs 55,000 people and has business operations in more than 140 countries.