Merck Animal Health Announces WSAVA Michael J. Day Scholarship Recipient for 2023
Winning veterinary student set to investigate canine distemper virus maternal antibody transfer in dogs
Rahway, NJ, January 23, 2024 – Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced the 2023 recipient of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Michael J. Day Scholarship, Lotta Truyen. A veterinary student at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany, Truyen was selected as the winner based on her study proposal to examine how canine distemper virus- (CDV)-specific maternal antibodies are transmitted from mothers to puppies in order to inform future CDV vaccine strategies. As the recipient of this scholarship, Truyen will receive a $15,000 grant provided by Merck Animal Health to fund the study’s research.
“The next generation of veterinarians will be instrumental in impacting the way we prevent, treat and manage companion animal infectious diseases, which is why Merck Animal Health is proud to support to support Lotta Truyen’s research in honor of Michael J. Day,” said Ingrid Deuzeman, director, global marketing, Companion Animals, Merck Animal Health. “A deeper knowledge and understanding of canine distemper maternal antibody transfer and function will help establish improved vaccine strategies in the future.”
Established in honor of Emeritus Professor Michael Day, chair of the WSAVA’s Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) from 2009 until March 2020, the Michael J. Day Scholarship provides a selected recipient with research funding for studies in companion animal infectious diseases, clinical vaccinology, or immunology. The scholarship invites students studying towards a veterinary degree from an accredited veterinary establishment to apply. Last year’s recipient, Somnath Aryal, studied canine tick-borne diseases in Nepal. The winning study results are expected to become available near the end of 2024.
About WSAVA
The WSAVA represents more than 200,000 veterinarians worldwide through its 116 member associations and works to enhance standards of clinical care for companion animals. Its core activities include the development of WSAVA Global Guidelines in key areas of veterinary practice, including pain management, nutrition and vaccination, together with lobbying on important issues affecting companion animal care worldwide.
About Merck Animal Health
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. 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 and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, 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 candidates that the candidates 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 the global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).