Diversa Launches Novel Vaccine Product for Salmon Aquaculture
Thursday September 30, 6:30 am ET
Bayer Animal Health to Distribute Vaccine as Bayovac(R) SRS
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Diversa Corporation (Nasdaq: DVSA - News) today announced the launch of Bayovac® SRS in Chile. This novel vaccine is designed to prevent salmonoid rickettsial septicemia (SRS) in farmed salmon. SRS is currently the deadliest infectious disease affecting the Chilean salmon industry, accounting for as much as 70% of the mortality rate from infectious disease and approximately $100 million in annual losses in that country. Diversa manufactures this microbially-produced vaccine, and Bayer Animal Health is exclusively distributing and marketing this product in Chile, which produces 45% of the world's farmed salmon.
"Having achieved initial regulatory approval and sales of Bayovac® SRS in Chile, we expect this product will quickly demonstrate its superiority in preventing SRS compared to more traditional methods of disease control and will become an important product for the farmed salmon industry," said Jay M. Short, Ph.D., Diversa's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Since Chile is the world's largest producer of farmed salmon, and SRS is such a devastating problem for salmon farmers, we identified this as a high-value opportunity within the animal care market, one of our strategic focus areas. With the launch of Bayovac® SRS, Diversa has met its corporate goal of launching three new products in 2004," continued Dr. Short.
About Bayovac® SRS
Bayovac® SRS is the first subunit recombinant vaccine for prevention of infection by Piscirickettsia salmonis, the pathogen that causes SRS. Bayovac® SRS has been shown to provide up to 100% protection against Piscirickettsia salmonis infection with a single dose vaccination. Treatment of this infection with traditional antibiotics is problematic in terms of regulatory and consumer acceptance of antibiotic-treated fish in many markets, and antibiotic-treated fish are also vulnerable to Piscirickettsia salmonis infection during the mandatory antibiotic withdrawal period.
About Diversa
Diversa Corporation is a leader in applying proprietary genomic technologies for the rapid discovery and optimization of novel protein-based products. Diversa is directing its integrated portfolio of technologies to the discovery, evolution, and production of commercially valuable molecules with pharmaceutical applications, such as optimized monoclonal antibodies and orally active drugs, as well as enzymes and small molecules with agricultural, chemical, and industrial applications. Diversa has established alliances and joint ventures with market leaders, such as Amgen, BASF, Bayer Animal Health, The Dow Chemical Company, DSM Pharma Chemicals, DuPont Bio-Based Materials, Givaudan Flavors Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Invitrogen Corporation, Medarex, and XOMA. In addition, Diversa has formed a broad strategic relationship with Syngenta AG, a world-leading agribusiness company. Diversa has commercialized products both independently and in collaboration with strategic partners and licensees. Additional information is available at Diversa's website: www.diversa.com. |
