Novel vaccines for horses are designed with veterinarians in mind, combining cutting-edge safety, efficacy

ST. JOSEPH, MO. (November 23, 2009) – Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI), announces the introduction of its Vetera™ West Nile virus family of vaccines, the only vaccines containing the North American Equine E159™ 2005 horse isolate representative of the virus that is most likely to infect horses today. The Vetera family of vaccines includes protection against West Nile virus; Eastern, Western and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis; and tetanus, in a variety of combinations.

Vetera vaccines provide protection against the most contemporary strain of West Nile virus currently circulating in the United States and are the only West Nile virus vaccines to use both the intrathecal challenge model and a heterologous challenge isolate to demonstrate a proven, high level of efficacy for licensure.

Dr. Rob Keene, BIVI equine professional services veterinarian, says the Vetera vaccines incorporate the contemporary West Nile horse isolate along with the Eastern, Western, Venezuelan and tetanus antigens, and use a cutting-edge patent-pending purification process to eliminate the majority of the extraneous proteins from the vaccine antigens. This allows for an optimal antigen load in a single 1 mL volume dose that’s more readily tolerated by the horse’s immune system.

“The Vetera West Nile virus vaccines incorporate the Carbimmune™ adjuvant, which has been proven safe and highly effective in amplifying a rapid and sustained immune response in vaccinated horses,” says Keene. “And the vaccine does not contain mercury-based preservatives. The combination of the novel purification process and adjuvant in the Vetera vaccines has shown to virtually eliminate site reactions and other negative systemic responses to vaccination.”

Keene adds that as part of the Vetera West Nile Virus Assurance Program, horses are protected against West Nile virus for one full year when the vaccines are administered by a licensed veterinarian according to label directions. This will provide peace of mind to veterinarians and horse owners that horses are protected against this deadly disease. “Vaccination is the foundation of every equine health program and we believe the veterinarian is central to that process. That’s why we sell our equine vaccines only to veterinarians. It’s in the best interests of the horse and horse owners to make sure their animals are examined and vaccinated regularly by a licensed veterinarian.”

Vetera West Nile virus vaccines are killed-virus vaccines that do not need to be reconstituted for use. They are available alone as Vetera WNV or in combination as Vetera EWT+WNV and Vetera VEWT+WNV, packaged in 1 mL ready-to-use pre-filled syringes or in 10-dose color-coded vials.

For more information on Vetera West Nile virus vaccines, contact Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica at 800-325-9167, or visit www.Vetera-Vaccines.com.