Objective
In a general context of environmental, social and legal pressure to reduce the use of antibiotics to fight diseases in livestock animals, cost-effective vaccination becomes the focus of most of the industry, regulatory and agro-food public bodies. Development of new vaccines to prevent the disease and therefore avoid the use of antibiotics or to improve suboptimal available vaccines is now an European and industry priority.
Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an important infectious agent of cattle worldwide that affects herd productivity and reproduction. BVD has been and is an endemic disease in all countries where no systematic eradication and control programs have been established. Under these conditions, approximately 50% of the herds have or have had animals with persistent infection, and approximately 90% of the cattle have been exposed to the virus at some point during their lifetime.Infection with BVDV has a major economic impact, estimated in hundreds of euros per animal for a European hut of around 80 million animals. Modified, live and killed vaccines have been available for more than 50 years, yet the incidence of BVDV-induced disease remains significant, confirming a need for improved vaccines.
Aquilón intends to develop a new recombinant vaccine against BVDV using a Virus-Like- Particle patented technology. The vaccine will be poly-antigenic, non-live, tagged so that can differentiate vaccinated from infected animals, and cost-effective from the manufacturing side. Prior to start the experimental phase of the project, Aquilón wishes to confirm its commercial feasibility, defining precisely the Target Product Profile and exploring systematically its market potential and prospective cost/calendar of development to fulfil regulatory requirements. These studies are mandatory for the formulation of a business plan which will be the basic tool to decide investing in the future development of the project.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomolecules
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsvaccines
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantibiotics
- agricultural sciencesanimal and dairy sciencedomestic animalsanimal husbandry
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.2.4. - Sustainable and competitive bio-based industries and supporting the development of a European bioeconomy
- H2020-EU.3.2.1. - Sustainable agriculture and forestry
- H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
- H2020-EU.3.2.2. - Sustainable and competitive agri-food sector for a safe and healthy diet
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
24000 LEON
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.