Hester has signed an agreement from Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD) to acquire indigenously developed technology for development and commercialization of low pathogenic avian influenza (H9N2 strain) inactivated vaccine for poultry. Hester acquires technology from ICAR – NIHSAD to develop a Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H9N2 strain) Inactivated Vaccine for poultry
The agreement was signed on 27 December 2022 at the office of Agrinovate India, New Delhi. Agrinovate is a government entity that acts as an interface between ICAR and stakeholders in the agricultural sector, including technology transfer for vaccine production in the veterinary sector.
In this meeting Director General (DG), ICAR Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Deputy DG, ICAR Dr. BN Tripathi, Assistant DG, ICAR Dr. Ashok Kumar, CEO, Agrinovate India Dr. Praveen Malik, NIHSAD Director Dr. Aniket Sanyal, Hester CEO and MD Rajeev Gandhi, Hester CSO Dr. Manoj Kumar was present.
Low pathogenic avian influenza H9N2 strains cause comorbidity in poultry flocks throughout the year, causing heavy economic losses to poultry farmers. The disease usually has a low mortality of up to 6% but can be significantly increased in the presence of other infections. It can lead to irreversible egg production reduction (up to 50%) in layer birds and reduced performance in broilers.
This indigenously developed inactivated H9N2 vaccine for poultry has been developed using a local isolate, which makes it clear that the vaccine is made from a local strain and not an imported exotic strain.
This move achieves the country’s objective of making India self-reliant.
According to Agrinovate:
1. The vaccine has passed sterility, safety and efficacy testing in experimental tests under laboratory conditions.
2. This vaccine provides protective immunity to chickens for about 6 months.
Hester plans to launch the vaccine by the end of 2023 after completing necessary field studies and receiving regulatory approvals.
In addition to supplying the vaccine to India, Hester intends to export the vaccine through Hester’s own distribution network to African and Asian countries, where demand for the vaccine has already been established.
India’s large poultry population is a major source of livelihood for rural India. Until now, there was no vaccine available for avian influenza in India despite periodic outbreaks across the country. These factors make this vaccine have significant commercial potential. The agreement was signed on December 27, 2022 at Agrinovate India’s office in New Delhi.
