Intervet/Schering-Plough commences Rhodococcus equi vaccine trial

Intervet/Schering-Plough is beginning a new study of a candidate vaccine for the bacterial infection Rhodococcus equi (R. equi), which affects young horses.

The trial, which is being conducted in Germany, represents the final development stage for the treatment, which has already had its safety endorsed by health authorities in the Netherlands.

R. equi is a potentially deadly infection that causes a bout of acute and severe pneumonia in foals, with no successful vaccine having yet been developed.

It means that animal owners must currently treat the infection via a long-term programme of antibiotics, which can still leave the foal with permanent pulmonary lesions.

Dr Rene Aerts, vice-president of global biologic research and development at Intervet/Schering-Plough, said of the vaccine: "The advantage for the animals would be that they are protected against suffering from a severe and potentially fatal disease. In addition, for horse owners and breeders disease prevention would avoid significant economic losses."

Last month, Intervet/Schering-Plough signed a contract extension with its component supplier Destron Fearing that will last until the end of the year.