Elanco Enters Agreement with Medgene to Commercialize Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Vaccine in Dairy Cattle

Core Insights - Elanco Animal Health has entered into an agreement with Medgene to commercialize a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccine for dairy cattle, which is in the final stages of review for conditional license approval by the USDA [1][3][4] Industry Context - The poultry industry has faced ongoing challenges in controlling HPAI, which has now affected nearly 1,000 dairy herds across the U.S. since March 2024, highlighting the urgent need for new interventions [2] - The cross-species transmission of HPAI and its zoonotic potential necessitates the development of a cattle vaccine to mitigate the spread of the virus [2] Company Strategy - Elanco's partnership with Medgene aims to provide new solutions to dairy producers, enhancing their vaccination protocols and contributing to the overall health of the dairy industry [3] - The collaboration is expected to strengthen Elanco's diverse dairy portfolio and support its One Health platform, which benefits both dairy and poultry sectors [3] Technological Advancements - Medgene's vaccine platform technology has been previously approved by the USDA, facilitating the accelerated development of the H5N1 vaccine for dairy cattle [4] - Medgene is prepared with existing vaccine manufacturing capabilities to support the U.S. dairy herd [4]