Syntro Corp. has received approval for its second-generationvaccine against pseudorabies in pigs from the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture.

The genetically engineered PRV/Marker Gold vaccine allowsswine operations to distinguish vaccinated animals frominfected animals in two independent ways. It also can replaceeither of two existing vaccination programs against thedisease, which is targeted for control in the United States andEurope, William Davies, company vice president, told BioWorld.

Previously, once one of the existing vaccines was started, thatsame vaccine had to be maintained with two to four injectionsa year, and the other vaccine could not be used. The new Syntroproduct will maintain immunity in pigs that had receivedeither of the previous vaccines, Davies said.

Patents on the new vaccine are filed, and the technology toproduce it is covered by patents that have issued, Davies said.Syntro (NASDAQ:SYNT) of Lenexa, Kan., already markets one ofthe two types of existing pseudorabies vaccines. -- RF

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