Elanco Animal Health (NYSE: ELAN) has entered into an agreement with South Dakota-based Medgene to commercialize a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccine for dairy cattle. Medgene’s vaccine has met all U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) platform technology guidelines and is in the final stages of review for conditional license approval.
While the poultry industry has implemented strategies to manage HPAI, the ongoing outbreak—now in its fourth year—continues to pose challenges. Dairy producers, facing the virus without established biosecurity protocols, have been working to protect their herds. The disease has spread to nearly 1,000 dairy herds across the U.S. since March 2024, with documented zoonotic transmission to humans, highlighting the urgent need for additional interventions. Given the virus’s persistence, a cattle vaccine is seen as a crucial step in curbing transmission between birds and cattle.
Elanco CEO Jeff Simmons emphasized the importance of new solutions to mitigate disease spread, citing economic pressures such as rising egg prices and reduced milk production in affected dairies. He noted that the partnership with Medgene aligns with Elanco’s broader One Health strategy, benefiting both dairy and poultry producers while supporting market stability.
Medgene CEO Mark Luecke highlighted the company’s expertise in vaccine development and its commitment to providing innovative solutions for livestock producers. The USDA previously approved Medgene’s vaccine platform technology for use in cattle, enabling accelerated development of the H5N1 vaccine. With manufacturing capacity in place, Medgene is prepared to support the U.S. dairy industry once regulatory approval is granted.
This collaboration marks a significant step in addressing HPAI’s impact on dairy operations and broader agricultural markets.
