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Henderson Morley, the biotechnology company, announces that the Company is in discussions with a number of animal
health companies regarding the further development of a fish vaccine adjuvant.
The Company has
started trials which are examining the role of a proprietary vaccine adjuvant,
designed for use in the KHV vaccine program, but also with potential utility in
other commercially important fish vaccines. The cost of this programme is
funded within the current cash burn.
Adjuvants have
been used for many years in both human and animal vaccines - these are
non-specific stimulators that ‘kick start’ the immune system. They are usually
given simultaneously with a vaccine, and ideally have no adverse effects.
Due to the high
level of stimulation required by the immune system of fish, existing adjuvants
generally use combinations of mineral oils and other noxious substances. Adverse effects in existing adjuvants include
a slowing of growth rate (important in food fish), surface scarring
(significant in ornamental fish), adhesions in the peritoneum, and even death.
The Henderson
Morley adjuvant under development is intended to supersede adjuvants that are
currently widely used, as these adverse effects are not anticipated.
The market for a
successful fish vaccine adjuvant is significant. In addition to salmon and trout,
commercial vaccines are available for channel catfish, European seabass and
seabream, Japanese amberjack and yellowtail, tilapia and Atlantic cod. All of
these require an adjuvant, and based on current market conditions,
approximately 10% of the value of the vaccine is for the adjuvant.
World aquaculture has grown significantly during the past
half-century. In the early 1950s production was below 1 million tonnes and by
2004 it was reported to have risen to 59.4 million tonnes, with a value of
US$70.3 billion. This represents an average annual increase of 7.7 percent in
value over reported figures for 2002. The aquaculture market is therefore
an exciting and thriving sector in which to be working.
Executive Chairman Andrew Knight
said “The development of a new fish vaccine
adjuvant that can be used independently of our KHV program is another
technology that we would expect to license to an aquaculture company. The
Company will update the market with progress in both programs in due course”.
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