By: Azman Zakaria
Photo: Marina Ismail
SERDANG, Dec 30: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Malaysian Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals Sdn. Bhd. (MVP) entered into a licensing agreement to allow MVP to commercialise an innovative new generation vaccine to control the Newcastle disease which attacks commercial poultry.
The agreement was signed by the UPM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dato' Dr. Zulkifli Idrus and MVP Executive Director, Mrs. Rashidah Ibrahim.
It was witnessed by UPM Board Chairman, Tan Sri Dr. Ghauth Jasmon; UPM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datin Paduka Setia Dato’ Dr. Aini Ideris; and MVP Chairman, Dato' Dr. Mhd Nordin Mohd Nor.
The new generation vaccine innovation project was led by Prof. Dr. Abdul Rahman Omar from the Institute of Bioscience (IBS) and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UPM.
Prof. Dr. Abdul Rahman said tests conducted by IBS and MVP found that the vaccine was stable, had no side effects and was safe for one-day-old chicks.
“Chicks injected with the vaccine produce a high antibody level after three weeks, thus providing a comprehensive protection against the virulent ND genotype VII ND virus,” he said.
Tan Sri Dr. Ghauth said the agreement would allow laboratory research to be developed and made available to benefit the market and the society.
He said the development and progress made to the local vaccines could also reduce the government's dependence on imported animal vaccines.
Prof. Datin Paduka Setia Dato’ Dr. Aini added that ND disease is highly contagious, causing huge economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide.
Thus, she said, the signed agreement would provide social benefits and economic growth.
Meanwhile, Dato' Dr. Mhd Nordin said MVP would commercialise the vaccine, and he hoped it would become one of UPM's best-selling commercial products. - UPM
