HEALTH - Two New Canine Flu Vaccines Developed

It’s flu season and not just for humans - dogs get the flu too.

To combat canine influenza, scientists at University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry have developed the two new vaccines.

Currently veterinarians use vaccines that include inactivated or killed flu virus, but experts say they provide short-term, limited protection.

The new vaccines are “live-attenuated”  and work against H3N8 canine influenza virus, which is currently circulating in dogs in the US, along with the H3N2 virus.

Past research shows that live-attenuated vaccines, made from live flu virus that is dampened down so that it doesn’t cause the flu, provide better immune responses and longer periods of protection.

Scientists, led by Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Ph.D., used a genetic engineering technique called reserve genetics to create a live vaccine that replicates in the nose, but not in the lungs.

The nose is where the virus first enters a dog’s body, so generating an immune response there could stop the virus in its tracks.

The study found the vaccine was safe and able to induce better immune protection against H3N8 canine influenza virus in mice and dog tracheal cells than a commercially available inactivated vaccine.

To develop the second vaccine the team used reserve genetics to remove a protein called NS1 from H3N8 canine influenza virus.

Previous studies have shown that deleting the NS1 viral protein significantly weakens flu viruses so that they elicit an immune response but don’t cause illness, and this process has been successfully used for humans, horses and more.

The next step is clinical trials with dogs.

The team’s goal is to come up with new options to stem the spread of canine influenza in shelters and kennels, and to avoid the transmission of a dog flu virus to people.

According to the CDC there has been no evidence of transmission of canine influenza viruses from dogs to people and there has not been a single reported case of human infection with a canine influenza virus.

“However, influenza viruses are constantly changing and it is possible for a virus to change so that it could infect humans and spread easily between humans.”

This potential was recently illustrated when a veterinarian contracted avian flu (H7N2) through contact with a cat - the first time cats had gotten avian flu and first time it was passed to a human via a feline.  

By preventing dogs from getting the flu in the first place, the risk to humans in negated.

Canine influenza H3N8 virus originated in horses and has been known to exist in horses for more than 40 years.

The first canine infections were discovered in 2004 in greyhounds.

Symptoms include cough, runny nose and fever, but not all dogs will show signs of illness.

The severity of illness associated with canine flu in dogs can range from no signs to severe illness resulting in pneumonia and sometimes death.

Ontario Rabies Cases Increase to 86

The latest bulletin from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry puts the number of animals infected with rabies at 86.

This includes 60 raccoons and 24 skunks infected with raccoon strain rabies and two cases of Arctic Fox strain rabies.

Six of the cases identified over the past week were in the Hamilton area and one in Niagara.

Ontario continues its rabies control operations which began April 1st and involves dropping bait that contains rabies vaccine that animals ingest.

Find up-to-date rabies information on the Ontario government website.

Will Canine Cancer Treatment Benefit Humans?

A vaccine against canine cancer has been in development for 10 years and it is finally ready for testing. Dr. Mark Mamula has been busy fighting cancer. Currently dogs with cancer are receiving two vaccinations and their disease is monitored using MRI, CAT scans, and ultrasound. Six months into the trial researchers are optimistic.

Dr. Mamula said, "We're seeing in many of these aggressive forms of cancer that they're not getting worse, they're not increasing in size. Of course, many humans with cancers know that if you can maintain the level of tumor size or reduce them, those are all good things for patients, human patients -- same thing in dogs."

Dr. Mamula isn’t just hoping to help dogs though, he’s hoping to begin human clinical trials in approximately 18 months. "The reason that this trial is very important to our proposed human trials is that canine cancers look, for all the world, very similar to human cancers. They progress and are aggressive much in identical ways that human cancers are," said Dr. Mamula.

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Pfizer Agrees to Acquire Nimenrix and Mencevax from GlaxoSmithKline

On June 22, 2015, Pfizer Inc. announced that it entered an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline to acquire the meningitis vaccines Nimenrix and Mencevax. The acquisition will cost approximately $130 million USD and is expected to occur in the second half of 2015. The vaccine acquisition will allow Pfizer to service a broader population. This acquisition is not expected to have a significant financial impact on Pfizer’s 2015 financial performance and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Nimenrix (meningococcal serogroups A, C, W-135 and Y conjugate vaccine) is a meningococcal ACWY-TT conjugated vaccine that protects against Neisseria meningitidis. Nimenrix became available three years ago and is approved for sale in 61 countries and it’s registration is under review in 18 countries.

Mencevax (meningococcal polysaccharide serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 vaccine) is a meningococcal ACWY unconjugated polysaccharide vaccine used against meningococcal outbreaks and for travelers. Mencevax is available in 79 countries.

President of Pfizer Vaccines, Susan Silbermann said, “The addition of Nimenrix and Mencevax is an important milestone for Pfizer Vaccines. Adding these two innovative and complementary vaccines to our current portfolio will allow us to more completely respond to meningococcal disease outbreaks as well as proactively address a critical public health need – the prevention of meningococcal disease across all ages. Acquiring these quadrivalent vaccines will broaden our ability to address the burden of meningococcal meningitis – an uncommon but serious and sometimes fatal disease. This helps us to further fulfill our vision to protect lives with innovative vaccines to fight serious diseases worldwide and gives us even greater capability to meet the needs of the global community we serve.”

Pfizer’s goal for several years has been to bring new therapies to patients that significantly improve their lives. Pfizer Vaccines has the goal to increase business and enhance their portfolio through targeted external opportunities.      

  

About Nimenrix and Mencevax

Nimenrix is indicated for active immunization of individuals from the age of 12 months and above against invasive meningococcal diseases caused by Neisseria meningitidis group A, C, W-135 and Y.

Mencevax is indicated for active immunization of children older than two years, adolescents and adults against invasive meningococcal disease caused by meningococci of groups A, C, W135 and Y.

About Pfizer Inc.

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives.  We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer health care products.  Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time.  Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world.  For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us.  

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Conditional License Issued for Feline Fibrosarcoma Vaccine

The United States Department of Agriculture has issued a conditional license for Feline Interleukin-2 Immunomodulator, Live Canarypox Vector produced by Merial, Inc. The conditional license requires a product to be pure, safe, and have an expectation of efficacy and will expire in two years. Several studies have been performed to determine the safety of the vaccine.

The Feline Interleukin-2 Immunomodulator, Live Canarypox Vector vaccine is designed to be used post surgical removal of feline fibrosarcoma. The vaccine will be made available to licensed veterinarians and is “for use by or under the supervision of a veterinarian”.

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