Merck Animal Health Introduces PRIME PAC PRRS RR
New vaccine will help protect against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRS)
MADISON, N.J., Sept. 18, 2018 – Merck Animal Health (known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada), a global leader in vaccine development, introduces PRIME PAC® PRRS RR, a vaccine that provides protection against respiratory and reproductive diseases caused by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus in swine. The new product will help swine producers protect their herds against one of the costliest diseases in the industry.
PRIME PAC PRRS RR has shown to be effective for the vaccination of healthy swine 3 weeks of age or older against respiratory disease caused by PRRS virus and female breeding-age swine against reproductive disease caused by PRRS. The vaccine has duration of immunity against reproductive disease for at least 20 weeks, saving producers time and money.
The total cost of productivity losses due to PRRS in the U.S. national breeding and growing-pig herds is an estimated $638 million annually,1,2 which is why proper vaccination protocols are essential to disease prevention.
“PRRS is a devastating disease for both growing pigs and sows,” says Brett O’Brien, D.V.M., technical services, Merck Animal Health. “The dual protection against respiratory and reproductive disease of PRIME PAC PRRS RR is imperative to keep pigs healthy. Its convenient dosing of 1 mL makes it easy for producers to implement in their disease-prevention protocols, and safe for the animal.”
PRIME PAC PRRS RR also demonstrates good cross-protection in the face of heterologous PRRSV challenge, helping to reduce infection in herds. However, when developing a PRRS virus vaccination program, O’Brien recommends working with a veterinarian to create both short-term and long-term plans. “There are many important factors to consider, including biosecurity, animal flow and identifying high-risk entry points,” says O’Brien.
To learn more about PRIME PAC PRRS RR and advanced herd health challenges, visit www.merck-animal-health.com.
1 Holtkamp DJ, Kliebenstein JB, Neumann EJ, et al. Assessment of the economic impact of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus on United States pork producers. J Swine
2 Holtkamp DJ, personal communication.
About Merck Animal Health
For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals™, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, wellbeing and performance of animals. 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 or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter at @MerckAH.
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