WNV vaccine for horses

OVERLAND PARK, KAN.-Fort Dodge Animal Health announces the licensure of West Nile Innovator® DNA, a vaccine for horses to aid in the prevention of viremia caused by potentially deadly West Nile virus (WNV).

The development of the product involved collaborative work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the company says.

The vaccine represents a milestone in DNA science and technology and is believed to be the first DNA vaccine to be approved by a veterinary or human medicine regulatory agency for commercial sale, the company adds.

"During the process, Fort Dodge made some groundbreaking discoveries that simplified the preparation of the vaccine, enabling the successful development, testing and registration of the first product of its kind," says Steve Chu, DVM, PhD, senior vice president, global research and development, Fort Dodge Animal Health.

The vaccine is administered intramuscularly and causes the horse's cells to begin making proteins from the West Nile virus, which triggers a protective immune response, the company says.

The product will be added to Fort Dodge's line of equine products in early 2006 and will be available to licensed veterinarians.

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