London, England - April 9, 2012

Ceva announced the successful development and subsequent USDA approval of Vectormune HVT AIV, a recombinant vaccine against Avian Influenza (AI), at the 8th International Symposium on AI. Long awaited by poultry producers around the world, the vaccine offers a powerful tool to fight Avian Influenza while mitigating the high risk of transmission to people. AI has proven to be a major threat for the global poultry industry, disrupting international trade and inducing high levels of mortality and economical losses in infected flocks. Emerging markets especially struggle to fight and recover from the disease, and decreasing public research funds only compound the issue. Now, Vectormune HVT AIV offers an effective, safe and affordable solution.

Since the first major outbreaks of AI due to H5N1 were reported in China in 1996, and considering the limited efficacy of classical inactivated vaccines, including the ones using reverse genetics technology, Ceva has focused its efforts on the development of a new type of live vaccine using HVT vector technology.

Vectormune HVT AIV offers a new way to control this disease.  HVT vector vaccines bring a variety of benefits, including perfect safety, fast onset and a broad spectrum and long duration of immunity. The vaccine can be used in the hatchery, in day old chicks, allowing for optimal vaccine coverage. In situations were the classical inactivated vaccines had lost 100% of their efficacy because of variations of the field virus, Vectormune HVT-AIV proved to maintain a high level of protection. Vectormune HVT-AIV also showed capabilities of reducing the shedding of the field virus after challenge, which is a key factor to consider when aiming at a better control of the spreading of the disease.
Ceva has by far the most complete range of vaccines using this innovative technology with 15 registered products.

“We are dedicated to combating zoonoses, diseases transmitted between animals and humans that carry the threat of serious and devastating pandemics,” said Arnaud Bourgeois, Vice President of the Ceva Group and Director of Ceva’s Biology Business Unit. “After years of research, including both failure and success, we are proud to offer this new tool in the global fight against influenza.”

Vectormune HVT AIV has been successfully tested against several antigenically divergent Avian Influenza viruses from different parts of the world, in both laboratory and field conditions. “Our research revealed such outstanding potency features and flexibility that we believe this vaccine can dramatically help in improving the control of Avian Influenza,” said Yannick Gardin, Director of Biology Innovation Strategy at Ceva Santé Animale.
Ceva was a gold sponsor of the 8th International Symposium on Avian Influenza organized by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency UK. Hosted in the Royal Holloway, University of London, this important Congress welcomed more than 300 professionals working in related scientific fields around the world, including research, regulatory, and control of Avian Influenza.
Ceva actively participated in the scientific program with two oral presentations and three poster papers by both external and internal scientists.
A comprehensive compilation of all scientific information on Vectormune HVT AIV is available upon request.

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