Hester Biosciences announced the signing of an agreement with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD) to receive indigenously developed technology for the development and commercialization of the low pathogenic avian influenza (H9N2 strain) inactivated vaccine for poultry.
The low pathogenic avian influenza H9N2 strain causes comorbidity in poultry flocks all year, resulting in massive economic losses for poultry farmers. The disease has a low mortality rate of up to 6% in general, but this can increase significantly in the presence of other infections. It may also result in an irreversible drop in egg production (up to 50%) in layer birds and a performance loss in broilers.
This indigenously developed inactivated H9N2 vaccine for poultry is made from a local isolate, ensuring that the vaccine is made from the local strain rather than an exotic strain imported from elsewhere. “The huge poultry population in India is a key source of livelihood for rural India. Despite periodic outbreaks across the country, India had no vaccine for Avian Influenza until now. According to the company, these factors make this vaccine have a significant commercial potential.
After completing the necessary field studies and obtaining regulatory approvals, Hester intends to launch this Vaccine by the end of 2023. In addition to supplying the vaccine within India, Hester intends to export it to African and Asian countries via Hester’s own distribution network, where demand for the vaccine has already been establishe