The first cattle vaccine in the world that reduces the threat of E. coli O157 receives full approval in Canada
EconicheMC is now available to reduce the risk of contamination of food and water
Belleville, Ontario, October 27 2008. - Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (BNC on the Toronto Stock Exchange), a Canadian biopharmaceutical company focusing on technology, today announced qu'EconicheMC, the first vaccine in the world designed to reduce the excretion of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157: H7 by cattle, has received full approval from the Canadian Food Inspection (CFIA). Econiche is now available for unrestricted use by Canadian cattle producers and their veterinarians.
Econiche discovery is a Canadian developed by Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. The vaccine has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of E. coli O157 excreted into the environment by cattle and dairy cattle, and consequently, reduce risks to human health. The approval full Econiche occurs at a time when an outbreak of E.. coli occurred in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, making more than 200 people sick. There are about 40 cases of human disease in laboratory confirmed, including one case of haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). These diseases are associated with a Harvey's restaurant in the community. Another outbreak involving contaminated iceberg lettuce has caused 50 cases in Michigan, Illinois and Ontario since September 2008.
Most strains of E. coli are harmless but some, such as O157: H7, can cause serious illness and may even cause death if ingested by humans through meat, vegetables or water contaminated . Vaccination of cattle with Econiche can help reduce the risk of contamination of food and water by E. coli O157: H7.
"The cows are carriers of E. coli O157: H7, but this bacterium does not make them sick. The disease occurs when people consume food or contaminated water, often by the feces of cows, said Dr. Brett Finlay, a microbiologist and expert on bacterial diseases of the University of British Columbia, whose research led to the development of the vaccine. If we succeed in blocking the colonization of O157 in cows, it actually decreases the likelihood that humans will be exposed and decreases the level of disease in humans. "
The interventions on farms to reduce the excretion of E. coli O157: H7 by cattle as cattle vaccination with Econiche, have the potential to reduce contamination of food and water and the consequences associated with human infections caused by the deadly bacteria. Clinical trials with Econiche showed a significant reduction in the amount of E. coli excreted in manure of cows vaccinated.
"We always try to do our part and be a leader in the industry regarding food safety, would like to mention Kym Anthony, producer of specialty beef and owner of Top Meadow Farms in Clark*****urg, Ontario, who used the vaccine last year in accordance with the rules relating to the license to distribute veterinary biologics. The vaccine E. coli is in this sense. So far, there was a missing link in the industry. "
The human exposure and infection by E. coli O157: H7 can cause serious consequences on health, including abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea strong. In severe cases, there may be damage to the kidneys and thus lead to serious complications and even death.
"The announcement of the comprehensive Canadian approval of this vaccine is great news, says Dr. Hazel Lynn, medical officer of health for the Gray Bruce Health Unit, which includes the town of Walkerton, Ontario, where seven people died and more than 2 000 fell ill in May 2000 following the contamination of water supply to the city by the bacterium E. coli O157: H7, which came from cattle manure from a local farm. It truly is an innovative way to reduce a significant risk to public health. "
The public could also be infected by the bacteria through another source: contact with farm animals in zoos for children and agricultural exhibits. The fact that these animals vaccinated with Econiche can greatly help reduce the risk of transmission of the bacteria, a fact recognized by the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions (ACFE).
"The A. C.F.E. supports any action that aims to reduce the amount of E. coli O157: H7 excreted by cattle and could contaminate the environment, seeping into the water and / or in the food chain, says Rudy Friesen, president of the ACFE The Association further recommends the adoption of a proof of vaccination policy from across Canada that will ensure that the sector fairs and exhibitions is doing everything reasonably possible to ensure that the public can interact with livestock in a safe manner. "
Econiche be manufactured in production facilities Bioniche in Belleville, Ontario, where an expansion of $ 25 million supported by the governments of Ontario and Canada is underway. The supply of vaccine will be limited during the expansion of manufacturing.
About E. coli O157: H7
An estimated 100 000 cases of human infection with E. coli O157: H7 are reported each year in North America. 2% to 7% of those infected develop and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a disease characterized by kidney failure (in recent outbreaks, this percentage has increased to 16%). Five percent of HUS patients die, among them many children and elderly, in whom the kidneys are more susceptible to injury.
Apart from consumption of food and water contaminated by E. infection coli O157: H7 in humans may occur during a visit to an exhibition of animals. The children's zoos, fairs and exhibitions agricultural generate many routes of transmission of E. coli. Although direct contact with an animal is the most obvious, contact with contaminated products (eg., Sawdust, wood chips, shoes or clothing) can also cause human infection.
About Econiche
In September 2007, Econiche was recognized by the Animal Pharm Industry Excellence Awards, a recognition that rewards the best new veterinary product for livestock globally. The vaccine was developed by a strategic alliance formed in 2000 between the University of British Columbia, Alberta Research Council (ARC), the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan and Bioniche, which holds the rights for World vaccine. The vaccine prevents the bacterium E. coli O157 from attaching to the intestines of vaccinated cattle, thereby reducing its proliferation in the animal and thus the amount of bacteria discharged into the environment through manure. Over the past six years, more than 30 000 cattle have been vaccinated as part of clinical trials.
Two articles were published in a journal peer review, the Journal of Food Protection, with regard to the effectiveness of Econiche. These articles establish a link with provocation tests carried out on the field at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and conducted among nearly 900 animals in 2002 and 2003. It is among the researchers concluded Dr. David Smith, Dr. Rod Moxley et al that the majority of vaccinated cattle pen has a protective effect on non-vaccinated cattle from the same pen. This effect is called "herd immunity. Another article published recently in Foodborne Pathogens and Disease describing the results of a clinical trial of the vaccine on cattle for fattening which aimed to verify the effect of a vaccination program to two doses of Econiche against proteins type III, which are secreted by Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157: H7 entérohémorragique on the probability of detecting the organism on sampling devices in the environment of animals.
Uses in the U.S.
Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. currently working to meet the requirements for obtaining a conditional license for Econiche United States. Last February, the Department of Agriculture United States (USDA) has notified the company that last Econiche data to "meet the expected standard of efficiency" and that he was eligible for a conditional license under provided that the company devise a plan that "would collect sufficient data to conduct the product to obtain a full license." The conditional license, once granted, give the company full access to the U.S. market, but with two conditions: at least one step of the manufacturing process must be conducted in the United States and Bioniche will not be allowed to use a trademark for the vaccine.
About Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.
Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. is a Canadian biopharmaceutical company focusing on technology that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary products for the global market for human and animal health. The company, fully integrated, employs about 200 persons moving within three divisions: human health, animal health and food safety. The main objective of the company is developing cancer treatments exclusive which is financed by the marketing of animal and human health. Bioniche has been named one of the 10 largest life sciences in Canada in 2008. For more information, please visit www.Bioniche.com.
