DURHAM, N.C.--The same technology used in broiler and broilerbreeder
operations worldwide has another important application: manufacturing of
human flu vaccine.
The Poultry Health Division of Pfizer Animal Health (PPH) supplies
global manufacturers of human flu vaccine with two widely used
technologies: the Embrex® Inovoject® System, and the Embrex Inovoject
System - Egg Remover®.
“Poultry eggs currently are used as a growth medium for most human flu
vaccines produced worldwide,” explains Jack Hebrank, Senior Principal
Scientist for PPH. “The highly precise Inovoject System has been adapted
for the purpose of inoculating the flu virus into eggs. Additionally,
the Egg Remover system accurately candles and removes non-viable eggs
between days 10 and 11 of incubation prior to inoculation.”
The application of the Inovoject System to human vaccine production
required a number of equipment modifications, as well as a verification
process. The device was designed to meet sterility and quality standards
established by the flu vaccine manufacturers in accordance with the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
standards.
Now, PPH has carried the commitment to human flu vaccine manufacturing a
broad step further, by investing in new technology that will make flu
vaccine production even more precise and quality-oriented.
The Embrex Inovoject System - ER Heartbeat® - has an egg-candling and
removal verification process which will use light for the detection of
an embryonic heartbeat. This is an advancement compared to current
candling systems, which use visible or infrared light to evaluate embryo
presence, but not the live status of the bird. According to Hebrank, the
new, light-based technology will deliver flats of eggs that contain 99.8
percent live embryos when used between the ages of 10 and 14 days of
incubation.
“The ER Heartbeat system will assess whether or not an embryo is truly
alive prior to inoculation, and will positively detect recently dead
eggs that may harbor bacterial contamination,” explains Hebrank
“Compared to the current systems, which only can indicate that an embryo
is significantly smaller and less opaque than normal live embryos, the
new technology offers significant improvements for use in human flu
vaccine production.”
Japanese poultry distributor and customer, I.P. Tsusho Co., Ltd., has
utilized the Inovoject and Egg Remover systems for several years in
commercial poultry production. More recently, they have utilized the Egg
Remover system for candling of eggs they supply to a human flu vaccine
manufacturer in Japan. “The commitment to quality and performance that
accompanies these devices always has been impressive,” says Shiro
Negishi, Executive Director for I.P. Tsusho Co. “We are eager to apply
the precision of the ER Heartbeat system to our human flu vaccine
manufacturing processes.”
The adaptation of broiler-production equipment to human flu vaccine
production -- and the advancement of that technology exclusively for the
human vaccine market -- is a part of Pfizer’s ongoing dedication to
enhancing both animal and human health worldwide, according to William
Symington, DVM, MBA, group director of PPH, Human Flu Business. “We are
highly committed to quality, safety and innovation, whether we’re
assisting in raising healthy animals, supporting global food production
or helping protect human lives,” he says.
The Poultry Health Division of Pfizer Animal Health is a leading
provider of innovative, high-performance poultry health solutions to the
global poultry industry. Built upon the combined strength and experience
of Embrex and Pfizer Animal Health, the Pfizer Poultry Health is
committed to developing and marketing commercially novel vaccines and
mechanical and data management products which continue to provide
increasing value to the global poultry health industry. For more
information about the Pfizer Poultry Health, visit us online at www.pfizerpoultryhealth.com.
For More Information:
Melinda Freson
Pfizer Poultry Health
919-314-2698
melinda.freson@pfizer.com
or
Jill Spiekerman-Carrothers
MartinWilliams
515-971-9613
j.spiekerman@martinwilliams.com