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The anti-ISA virus vaccine is designed for the Chilean farmed salmon market. (Photo: Novartis)
ISA virus vaccine registration authorised
CHILE
Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 16:30 (GMT + 9)
The Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) granted Novartis Chile SA (Animal Health), the Chilean branch of the international Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG, the registry in Chile of its monovalent vaccine to prevent infectious salmon anaemia (ISA).
This company is one of the leading companies in the field of vaccine development and production, which includes viral antigens against the ISA virus.
At present, Novartis commercialises vaccines in Canada, the Faroe Islands, Norway and Chile.
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Novartis Chile's Constantino Siderakis. (Photo: Novartis)
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The company, which specialises in animal health, has vaccinated more than 200 million fish over the last ten years.
According to Constantino Siderakis, manager of Sales and Marketing for the aquaculture business of the Swiss company in Chile, the monovalent vaccine is a product designed for the Chilean market and pertains to a second-generation ISA vaccine.
This vaccine is produced in a factory installed on Prince Edward's Island, Canada. However, Chilean experts participated together with the firm’s global personnel during the product’s development stage.
“Nearly all of Chile’s Atlantic salmon producing companies have used this product, which, without a doubt, has had a positive effect on the recovery of the national productive activity,” Siderakis added.
It is estimated that the ISA virus inflicted around USD 30 million in casualties to the Chilean salmon farming industry and caused the dismissal of about 17,000 workers.
In other news, last 15 September, Recalcine Pharmaceutical Corporation (CFR) vaccinated some 300,000 farm-raised salmon hatchlings, between 30 and 50 grams, located in an Invertec company hatchery.
Next year these fish will be taken out to sea for fattening and harvest, when they reach four kilograms.
"We hope to vaccinate between 10 and 12 million fish over the next six months, Alejandro Pino, a manager at the Recalcine pharmaceutical company which manufactures the drug, told AFP.
Related article:
- Vaccination against deadly salmon virus begins
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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