ZURICH, February 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Prionics has acquired the tuberculin business of Lelystad Biologicals B.V. Through the acquisition, Prionics is now the world's leading provider of bovine tuberculosis diagnostics.
Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is the most important disease in cattle that can be spread to humans. Without appropriate control measures bovine TB spreads quickly as recently seen in Africa, Asia, and in several European countries. In 2008, over 23,000 outbreaks of the disease were reported in 57 countries, affecting over 220,000 animals1. To combat the disease, many countries worldwide have intensified their TB eradication programs. With BOVIGAM(R), the only validated and OIE2 approved laboratory test for bovine TB, Prionics is already well established in the TB diagnostics market. Now, Prionics has extended its bovine TB business by acquiring the tuberculin unit of Lelystad Biologicals B.V., the leading provider of tuberculin products. With our existing laboratory test, BOVIGAM(R), and the new tuberculins that are used for field testing of bovine TB, Prionics is now able to offer the best diagnostic test solutions available for the diagnosis of TB in cattle, says Dr. Markus Moser, CEO of Prionics. With these products, we can make a significant contribution to the eradication of this serious zoonotic disease.
In December 2009, Prionics signed an agreement to purchase the tuberculin unit of Lelystad Biologicals B.V., a company of Wageningen University and Research Centre, the Netherlands. The tuberculin product line will contribute significantly to the financial turnover of the Prionics group.
Tuberculin of highest quality standards
The international reputation of the quality and immunogenic potency of the Lelystad tuberculin products has been recognized by several customers including the responsible authorities in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Lelystad Biologicals B.V. tuberculin unit, now part of Prionics, has produced high quality bovine and avian tuberculin PPD3 in its GMP4 approved manufacturing site in the Netherlands since 1949. The tuberculin production will be continued in the current production facilities in Lelystad, the Netherlands. The products are the only tuberculin PPDs that fully comply with the quality standards described in the European Pharmacopoeia monographs [0535] and [0536]. These products therefore meet the highest quality standards and customer requirements. The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged this and approved this tuberculin PPD as the international standard in 1986.
About Prionics
Prionics AG, based in Zurich, Switzerland, is a leading provider of farm animal diagnostics and a recognized center of expertise in BSE and prion diseases. Founded in 1997, Prionics researches and markets innovative diagnostic solutions for major farm animal diseases, contributing significantly to the protection of consumer health. Winner of the Swiss Economic Award for Company of the year (2002) and the European Biotech Award for Excellence in Biotech Business (2004), in 2006 Prionics was nominated as the world's best animal health company in the Animal Pharm industry excellence awards.
1 Data compiled by SAFOSO, Berne 2 OIE: World organization for animal health 3 PPD: Purified Protein Derivative 4 GMP: Good Manufacturing Practice For more information please visit http://www.prionics.com/media or contact: Marjan van der Haar Marketing Communications Tel: +41-44-200-20-57 Mobile: +41-79-253-52-16 Email: media@prionics.com
SOURCE: Prionics AG
CONTACT: For more information please visit www.prionics.com/media orcontact: Marjan van der Haar, Marketing Communications, Tel:+41-44-200-20-57, Mobile: +41-79-253-52-16, Email: media@prionics.com .
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