MSD Animal Health Highlights Broad Swine Portfolio at the 10th European Symposium of Porcine Health Management

MADISON, NJ, May 9, 2018 – MSD Animal Health (known as Merck Animal Health in the United States and Canada) today announced the presentation of more than 25 abstracts at the 10th European Symposium of Porcine Health Management (ESPHM), highlighting new research across the company’s broad swine portfolio, including ResPig®, ReproPig® and SowCare® products. In addition, three abstracts were selected for oral presentation, studying the economic importance of Congenital Tremor-Atypical Porcine Pestivirus (CT-APPV) in a Dutch farm, a new tool to evaluate biosecurity, and the application of Slaugherhouse Pleurisy Evaluation System (SPES) scoring in Belgium. These three oral presentations cover non-product related subjects, further emphasizing the company’s commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals™. ESPHM 2018 will be held in Barcelona, Spain from May 9-11, 2018.

“As a company focused on preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of swine, we are excited to share this breadth of data across our innovative portfolio of vaccines, health management solutions and value-added services,” said Rika Jolie, DVM, Ph.D., MBA, Global Technical Director, MSD Animal Health. “This new research emphasizes our dedication to the Science for Healthier Animals™.”

MSD Animal Health invited attendees to discover The IDAL® Way in a virtual experience room (Booth #K3, lower level) where they can learn about the latest in needle-free and intradermal vaccination and how to use the new IDAL® 3G device, as well as an MSD Animal Health broader swine portfolio exhibit (Booth #10, main exhibit hall).

Select abstracts of interest include:

Oral Abstract #300: Congenital Tremor-APPV outbreak in a multiplying farm: effect on performance and economics (Presenter: A. de Groof)
This study evaluated the technical and economic impact of a Congenital Tremor-Atypical Porcine Pestivirus (CT-APPV) outbreak. Congenital tremor (CT) prevalence during an outbreak was up to 55% at litter level and 69% within litters with young parity sows at higher risk. Reduced colostrum and milk intake along with persistent viremia led to high mortality in CT piglets (25% in second parity sows and 69% in first parity sows). In addition, the financial impact of a CT outbreak can be high – up to €22,000 total loss per farm.

Oral Abstract #301: B-eSecure: electronic system to measure and improve biosecurity on pig farms (Presenter: V. Geurts)
This collaborative pilot project with PigChamp EU implemented the use of B-eSecure, an electronic system to track movements of people in farms and visualize the effects of biosecurity improvement on health and production results, in two Dutch farms. Biosecurity procedures impact diseases such as PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome), but applying and following biosecurity rules is often difficult. However, the study found that linking the program with motivating PRRSv (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus) prevalence data and production results helps to reach and maintain a high level of biosecurity.

Oral Abstract #448: The usefulness of SPES score to screen for Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infections in endemically infected pig herds (Presenter: R. Del Pozo)
This study used SPES (Slaugherhouse Pleurisy Evaluation System) scoring to compare pleurisy (inflammation in the chest or lungs) at slaughter with serological response in herds with and without clinical signs of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP), a causative agent of porcine pleuropneumonia. Seroconversion to APP in clinically affected herds coincided with severe and highly prevalent pleurisy at slaughter, suggesting that slaughterhouse checks are useful to monitor APP and categorize clinically affected herds.

Poster Abstract #111: Assessment of antibody response and efficacy of vaccines against neonatal diarrhoea by E.coli  (Lead Author: V. Geurts)
This study compared F4, F5, F6 and LT antibody response following vaccination of gilts with PORCILIS® ColiClos and similar competitor vaccines (two vaccines) in a Dutch farm with 4,000 sows. Although all vaccines increased in antibody titers against the various vaccine antigens, PORCILIS® ColiClos induced the highest titers against several of them, which may explain the better general health, appetite and faecal consistency scores and the numerically lower litter treatment percentage.

Poster Abstract #161: Impact of an intradermal PCV2 vaccine on various production parameters and antibiotic consumption in finishers (Lead Author: K. Fiebig)
This study evaluated the effect of PORCILIS® PCV ID on production parameters following an acute outbreak of PCV2 (Porcine Circovirus Type 2) in a German farm. Piglets were vaccinated with PORCILIS® PCV ID at 21 days of age immediately following the outbreak leading to reduction in PCV2 viremia (from 107.43 PCV2 μl DNA to 101/μl DNA) and antibiotic use (from 7.8% to 0.6%). Further, the intradermal PCV2 vaccination improved the already excellent performance parameters – average daily gain increased from 1.014 g/day to 1.050 g/day and carcass quality also improved.

Poster Abstract #197: Productivity improvements following PORCILIS® PCV M Hyo vaccination (Lead Author: G. Blach-Nielsen)
The historical study evaluated the effect of PORCILIS® PCV M Hyo during the weaning period in 650,000 pigs across 20 farms in Denmark. On average, vaccination with PORCILIS® PCV M Hyo reduced mortality by 0.4% (p=0.01), reduced feed conversion rate by 0.06 feeding units/kg (p=0.07) and increased average daily gain by 5 g/day (p=0.83). This led to an average improved productivity of €0.5, supporting the economic benefit of vaccinating with PORCILIS® PCV M Hyo during the weaning period.

Poster Abstract #276: A clinical trial to assess serological response and efficacy of PORCILIS® Ileitis in pigs with subclinical ileitis raised without antibiotics (RWA) (Lead Author: E. Metzger)
This study evaluated the effect of PORCILIS® Ileitis, an inactivated Lawsonia intracellularis vaccine, in an antibiotic-free farm with subclinical ileitis in Canada. Vaccination with PORCILIS® Ileitis effectively reduced Lawsonia shedding and prevalence from 50% to 23%, induced an antibody response and increased weight at 20 weeks of age by an average of 1 kg compared to controls. Although there were no clinical ileitis signs in this farm, the results suggest the opportunity loss was greater for pigs in the control group.

For more information about ESPHM 2018, visit www.esphm2018.org.

About MSD Animal Health
For more than a century, MSD, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. MSD Animal Health, known as Merck Animal Health in the United States and Canada, is the global animal health business unit of MSD.Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals™, MSD Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services. MSD 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. MSD Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.msd-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline products that the products will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. 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; the company’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 the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.
  
The company 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 the company’s 2017 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).             

Please see Prescribing Information for IDAL® at [http://pcv2-mhyo.azurewebsites.net/Products/IDAL/IDALIntradermanNeedlefreeVaccination] and PORCILIS® at [http://www.porcilis-prrs.com/]