In our animal vaccine business, we develop products primarily for mammals, birds, and aquaculture. We have experience in developing both oral and injectable formulations, as well as products in two categories: feed additives and vaccines.
PCV2 Oral vaccine / Feed additives
Background
Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) is the causative virus of Porcine Circovirus Associated Diseases (PCVAD), a prevalent swine infection worldwide. Almost 100% of farms show infection, leading to post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), resulting in growth retardation, wasting, and reproductive disorders. Estimated economic losses due to PCVAD reach up to 600 million euros annually in the EU. PCV2 is a ubiquitous virus, resistant to disinfection and heat, making sanitation challenging. Therefore, vaccination has become the standard control method.
Currently available vaccines are all injectable, and in Japan, mass vaccination is mandatory. However, challenges such as individual vaccination efforts, costs, and the risk of needle residue remain.
At KAICO, we are developing an oral vaccine in powder form that can be mixed with feed and stored at room temperature. Alongside pharmaceutical development, we are also progressing towards creating a feed additive that is more accessible for introduction in developing countries. We plan to launch this product in Vietnam, a country with a thriving swine industry, by the end of 2024.
Development status
In actual validation tests using live pigs, we have confirmed that there are no issues with the palatability of the silkworm powder. When administered to piglets, the test group significantly suppressed viremia and growth retardation even under conditions where the virus was artificially exposed. Additionally, when fed to sows, we confirmed that antibodies are transferred from the sow to the piglets through breast milk. We are also exploring more efficient methods of immunity transfer.
