Pfizer Animal Health has launched Zylexis for horses, the first and only immunomodulator licensed in the UK to reduce the clinical signs of equine respiratory disease associated with over-crowding and stress.Pfizer Animal Health has launched Zylexis for horses, the first and only immunomodulator licensed in the UK to reduce the clinical signs of equine respiratory disease associated with over-crowding and stress.

Zylexis contains inactivated parapox ovis virus (iPPOV), a super-antigen which Pfizer says boosts a horse's immune system to reduce the effects of infectious respiratory disease1,2 - bridging the gap between potential and performance. 

According to the company, Zylexis acts by stimulating the horse's non-specific immune system, inducing antiviral interferons and interleukins and stimulating innate immune cells. In this way it bridges the gap until the horse's adaptive immune system can develop a pathogen-specific response.3-5

Pfizer highlights research which has shown a 40.3% reduction in the clinical signs and duration of respiratory disease in young horses under conditions of crowding and stress and a significant reduction of purulent nasal discharge when using Zylexis.6,7 No local or systemic adverse events were observed in a 999 dose study.8

Wendy Talbot, National Veterinary Manager at Pfizer, said: "Zylexis has been licensed in the States and in Germany for a number of years. We believe Zylexis plays a pivotal role in helping to minimise the severity of respiratory disease outbreaks in these countries, therefore helping to maintain performance potential. It's a very welcome addition to the medicine box of UK vets."

The administration of Zylexis is recommended as a course of three single dose intramuscular injections on days 0, 2 and 9. The first dose should be administered shortly before the over-crowding or stressful situation.

References

  1. Fachinger V, et al. Evidence for a parapox ovis virus-associated superantigen. Eur J Immunol 2000; 30: 2962-2971.
  2. Zylexis Summary of Product Characteristics, April 2012.
  3. Mayr A. Development of a non-immunising, paraspecific vaccine from attenuated pox viruses: a new type of vaccine. New Microbiol 2003; 26; 7-12.
  4. Weber O, et al. Inactivated parapoxvirus ovis (Orf virus) has antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus and herpes simplex virus. J Gen Virol 2003; 84(Pt 7): 1843-1852.
  5. Friebe A, et al. Immunomodulatory effects of inactivated parapoxvirus ovis (Orf Virus) on human peripheral immune cells: induction of cytokine secretion in monocytes and Th1-like cells. J Virol 2004; 78(17): 9400-9411.
  6. Pfizer Study No. Equine 1-98.
  7. Ziebell KL, et al. The use of Baypamun N in crowding associated infectious respiratory disease: efficacy of Baypamun N (freeze dried product) in 4 -10 month old horses. Zentralbl Veterinarmed B 1997; 44(9): 529- 536
  8. Field Safety Trial Report. Nov. 20, 2000, Pfizer Inc.

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