Salmonella Newport Cattle Vaccine Also Part of Pfizer Animal Health’s Licensing Agreement
NEW YORK--Pfizer Animal Health today furthered its commitment to safe
food from cattle by announcing a global licensing agreement with
Epitopix that will expand access to its conditionally licensed
Escherichia Coli Bacterial Extract vaccine* to U.S. cattle producers
this fall.
“Pfizer Animal Health supports cattle producers’ continuing strides
against harmful bacteria, often the most frequent causes of food borne
illnesses in people,” said Juan Ramón Alaix, president, Pfizer Animal
Health. “We want more cattle producers to benefit from this important
vaccine to help reduce the prevalence and shedding of E. coli.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted a conditional license
last year to Epitopix for this first and only Escherichia Coli Bacterial
Extract vaccine available in the U.S. It is labeled for use in cattle to
help reduce the prevalence of E. coli O157 in cattle and feces. This
helps to minimize E. coli exposure and infection of herd-mates.
As part of its licensing agreement, Pfizer Animal Health also acquired
global rights to Epitopix’ conditionally licensed Salmonella Newport
bacterial extract vaccine*. Currently available in the U.S. from Agri
Laboratories, Ltd., of St. Joseph, Missouri under a USDA conditional
license, it will become an exclusive part of Pfizer Animal Health’s
livestock portfolio in the U.S. beginning in 2011.
Pfizer Animal Health and Epitopix will conduct additional potency and
efficacy studies on both vaccines to secure a full license for each from
the USDA. Terms of the global licensing agreement were not disclosed.
“The R&D strength, global reach, and marketing expertise of Pfizer
Animal Health make it an ideal partner for Epitopix,” said Epitopix
General Manager Jim Sandstrom. “By working in close cooperation, our
mutual aim is to quickly broaden the availability of these important
vaccines to the beef and dairy industries, as part of Pfizer Animal
Health’s comprehensive portfolio of cattle products and services.”
About E. coli Infection in People
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates approximately
70,000 cases occur in people annually. However, the CDC acknowledges
that most cases of E. coli O157 go unreported. The symptoms of E. coli
O157 infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach
cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. If there is fever, it
usually is not very high (less than 101˚F/less than 38.5˚C). Most people
get better within 5–7 days. Some infections are very mild, but others
are severe or even life-threatening.
About Epitopix
Epitopix LLC was founded in 2002 as an affiliate of Willmar Poultry
Company, a subsidiary of Life-Science Innovations headquartered in
Willmar, Minn. at the MinnWest Technology Campus, a 110 acre
privately-owned technology business park. The mission of Epitopix is to
provide the food animal industry with novel bacterial vaccines with the
potential to be more broadly cross-protective and safer than
conventional whole-cell bacterins or live bacterial vaccines. Epitopix
owns a family of patents related to the utilization of bacterial iron
acquisition proteins for use as vaccine antigens. For more information,
visit www.Epitopix.com.
About Pfizer Animal Health
Pfizer, Inc, the world’s largest research-based biomedical and
pharmaceutical company, also is a world leader in discovering and
developing innovative animal vaccines and prescription medicines,
investing an estimated $300 million annually. In the first quarter of
2010, Pfizer Animal Health generated revenue of $846 million, and for
full-year 2009, $2.8 billion, including revenue from Wyeth/Fort Dodge
since Pfizer’s acquisition in October.
In addition to helping assure a safe, global food supply from healthy
food animals, Pfizer Animal Health also helps dogs, cats and horses to
live healthy longer. For additional information on Pfizer’s portfolio of
animal products and services, visit animalhealth.pfizer.com.
*Notice: This product license is conditional. Efficacy and/or potency of
this product have not been fully demonstrated. Consultation with a
veterinarian is recommended.
©2010 Pfizer Animal Health. All rights reserved. GCA10053.
Pfizer Animal Health
Elinore White, 212-733-6609
elinore.y.white@pfizer.com
or
Bader Rutter
Jennifer Ryan, 970-689-3385
jryan@bader-rutter.com