Merck Animal Health Launches First Ready-to-Use Single-Shot Vaccine in Europe to Protect Piglets from Two Prevalent Respiratory Infections

PORCILIS® PCV M HyoProtects against both Porcine Circovirus Type 2
and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

MADISON, N.J., April 1, 2015 – Merck Animal Health (known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada) today introduced PORCILIS® PCV M Hyo, the first ready-to-use single-injection combination vaccine in Europe that protects piglets against both Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae) infections during the finishing period. The two most prevalent pathogens in today’s swine industry, PCV2 and M. hyopneumoniae cause mild disease by themselves, but in concurrent infection, they induce severe respiratory disease and lesions and are a considerable burden to producers.

PORCILIS® PCV M Hyo comes ready-to-use and does not require mixing, saving labor, time, and reducing the potential for handling error.

“The launch of PORCILIS® PCV M Hyo vaccine provides a safe and effective new option for veterinarians and producers in Europe by protecting young piglets against both diseases for at least 21 weeks after a single injection,” said Narciso Bento, Global Swine Business Head, Merck Animal Health. “This ready-to-use vaccine requires less handling, resulting in less stress on the animals and the people that care for them.”

“We are proud to offer producers in Europe the first ready-to-use vaccine that, in a single injection, protects piglets during a crucial time in their development against both M hyo and PCV2” said Ruud Segers, Global R&D Swine Biologicals, Merck Animal Health. “This novel vaccine aligns with our goal to introduce new options to improve animal well-being while maximizing productivity.”

Approved indication:
PORCILIS® PCV M Hyo is indicated for the active immunization of piglets to:

  • Reduce viraemia, virus load in lungs and lymphoid tissues and virus shedding caused by Porcine Circovirus type 2 infection
  • Reduce severity of lung lesions caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection
  • Reduce the loss of daily weight gain during the finishing period in face of infections with M. hyopneumoniae and/or PCV2 (as observed in field studies)

Detailed conditions of the product are described in the summary of product characteristics (SPC), published on the European Medicines Agency’s website and available at www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/veterinary/003796/WC500177272.pdf.

For more information about PORCILIS® PCV M Hyo visit www.porcilis-pcv-m-hyo.com or www.respig.com.

About Merck Animal Health
Today’s Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals™, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com  or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter at @MerckAH.

Merck forward-Looking Statement
This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. 

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; Merck’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of Merck patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. 

Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Merck’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site ( www.sec.gov ).