NSW Govt delivers foot-and-mouth vaccine to protect livestock

A groundbreaking biodegradable vaccine to protect livestock from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been developed as part of a $20 million, five-year research partnership between Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), Tiba Biotech and the NSW Government.

FMD is a highly infectious viral disease that affects cattle, sheep, goats and pigs and is endemic in many countries, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Australia is one of the few countries free of FMD, but if a widespread outbreak were to occur, it would have a catastrophic impact on meat supply and exports, with the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) estimating an FMD incursion could cost the economy up to $80 billion.

The creation of the new vaccine is part of the NSW Government’s $1 billion biosecurity plan to protect the state’s $8 billion livestock industry and Australia’s food security. It was developed by Tiba scientists as part of an international research collaboration with the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute and the UNSW RNA Institute, with support from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and MLA.

The new mRNA vaccine allows the vaccinated animal to create proteins and antibodies to trigger an immune response. It does this without entering the nucleus of cells and disappears from the animal within days, leaving antibodies behind for protection against the virus. As the vaccine can be manufactured without the use of infectious material, this makes it safer and much faster to produce.

A challenge study evaluating the efficacy of the FMD vaccine was recently conducted by Germany’s Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut. Researchers found that the vaccine demonstrated strong, effective immune response and safety — vaccinated cattle did not contract FMD when exposed to the disease and, importantly, they did not shed the virus.

Unlike current mRNA delivery technologies, Tiba’s vaccines can be stored long-term at standard refrigeration temperatures and at room temperature for at least one month — a critical advantage in livestock applications. Furthermore, an extensive safety evaluation of Tiba’s vaccines has found they are safe at very high doses — much larger than would ever be administered.

Following the preliminary trials, the FMD vaccine must now undergo a rigorous evaluation process with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) before approval for use on livestock. Australian-based Tiba co-founder Peter McGrath said the company is focused on working regulators to ensure vaccine safety and effectiveness.

“Australia is now at the forefront of livestock vaccine development, bringing with it the potential to develop manufacturing capacity, jobs and exports,” McGrath said.

“Livestock mRNA vaccines offer a safe, efficient and effective approach to protecting animal health, benefiting both the agricultural industry and consumers.”

The vaccine has taken less than 18 months to develop, cost about $2.5 million, and makes Australia one of only a handful of countries with the local capacity to produce a FMD vaccine (through the UNSW RNA Institute). And while MLA Managing Director Michael Crowley said the vaccine may never be needed, even in the event of a disease incursion, the research demonstrates that the Australian livestock industry is proactive and prepared.

Image credit: iStock.com/11Audrey11