Intervet/Schering-Plough’s Porcilis PCV shows efficacy in study

Intervet/Schering-Plough has published new data from a field trial that underlines the effectiveness of Porcilis PCV, its vaccine for porcine circovirus-associated disease.

Results from the study, which was conducted among 818 piglets, have been published in the journal Veterinary Microbiology and show that the vaccine was associated with a 50 percent reduction in mortality rates compared to placebo.

Moreover, the drug was also shown to help cut morbidity rates among tested animals and minimise the need for antibiotic treatments, while also helping them to gain weight.

Further analysis of the study data illustrated its effectiveness in inducing humoral immunity and a specific cell-mediated immunity, which can help to create antibodies that prevent the entry of the virus into cells.

Dr Alex Eggen, global technical director for swine at Intervet/Schering-Plough, said this represents an "important finding".

Last month, it was announced that Intervet/Schering-Plough's planned merger with Merial will no longer be going ahead, due to the complexity of the regulatory procedures associated with the deal.