Saskatchewan lab to produce new swine vaccine

Québec-based animal health company, Prevtec Microbia Inc.and the SRC recently received Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) approval to produce and market Coliprotec, which is a vaccine that controls a common disorder in pigs.

"This new vaccine can provide some comfort for farmers who face losing a good portion of their swine population to disease," said Lyle Stewart, Minister responsible for SRC. "The opportunity to produce animal vaccines will help bring new business to Saskatchewan and new health care products to livestock producers in this province and throughout Canada."

SRC carried out the pre-licence serial testing work in its Biosafety Level 2 Fermentation Pilot Plant together with Prevtec, in order to secure CFIA regulatory approval to commercialise the vaccine.

"We are very proud of this achievement," SRC president and CEO Dr Laurier Schramm said. "We are now the only contract research organisation in Canada with this type of regulatory approval to produce animal vaccines."

Coliprotec will assist the swine industry in Canada as it is intended to control post-weaning diarrhoea in swine, a common disorder that can spread easily and result in major financial losses for a producer.

Approximately 30 million piglets are raised in Canada (2.6 million in
Saskatchewan) each year. Nationally, pig exports are responsible for economic activity of approximately CAD7.5b (US$7.3b) annually and about 42,000 jobs.

Related websites:

• SRC

• Prevtec Microbia Inc

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