Medegene, a South Dakota based animal health company, has begun a field trial for their H5N1 vaccine in cattle. The trial began earlier this month at a contract research facility.
The goal of the field trial is to demonstrate a reasonable expectation of efficacy and preliminary safety in animals specific to the company’s vaccine, data that would support a conditional license by the USDA. Dr Alan Young is co-founder and Chief Testing Officer for Medegene.
“As unfortunate as the H5N1 spread is, this is exactly the kind of situation our technology was created to address,” Young says. “Our goal from the very beginning of this outbreak was to be ready for our cattle customers whenever the USDA gave us the green light.”
The company’s H5N1 cattle vaccine study is expected to be complete in five weeks, with results then shared with the USDA. Medegene is based in Brookings, South Dakota.