Key Takeaways
- Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS) announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Poulvac Procerta HVT-ND, a recombinant vector vaccine protecting chickens against Newcastle disease and Marek's disease.
- The vaccine can be given in ovo or by subcutaneous injection at hatch, protecting against both diseases with a single dose.
- Newcastle disease is a notifiable disease under EU animal health rules, with recent confirmed outbreaks in Germany, Spain, and Poland.
- The vaccine uses the herpesvirus of turkey (HVT) as its vector, a platform that has been used in poultry vaccination for roughly two decades.
- Poulvac Procerta HVT-ND joins two other EU-authorized vaccines in the Procerta range, including one authorized in 2025 that protects against Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease, and Marek's disease together.
Zoetis Wins EU Authorization for Poulvac Procerta HVT-ND
Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS) announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Poulvac Procerta HVT-ND, a recombinant vector vaccine for protecting chickens against Newcastle disease and Marek's disease viruses. The vaccine can be administered either in ovo or by subcutaneous injection at hatch, providing protection against both diseases in a single dose.
How the Vaccine Protects Against Newcastle and Marek's Disease
Poulvac Procerta HVT-ND uses the herpesvirus of turkey (HVT) as its vector, an avirulent virus capable of replicating in chickens that has served as a poultry vaccine vector for about two decades. The vaccine virus expresses a Newcastle disease virus antigen, building immunity against Newcastle disease while also protecting against Marek's disease.
Newcastle Disease Outbreaks Across Europe
Newcastle disease is classified as a notifiable disease under EU animal health regulations and remains a significant cause of mortality and production losses in commercial poultry, as shown by recent confirmed outbreaks in Germany, Spain, and Poland.
“Recent outbreaks of Newcastle disease across several European countries, including Germany, Spain and Poland, serve as a reminder of the ongoing threat this disease poses to poultry health in the region,” said Julia von Gablenz, Regional President, Europe and Middle East at Zoetis. “The marketing authorization of Poulvac Procerta HVT-ND comes at a relevant time, and we look forward to working with veterinarians and producers to support its use as part of their flock health programs.”
Zoetis Expands Its Procerta Vaccine Portfolio
Poulvac Procerta HVT-ND joins two other vaccines in the Poulvac Procerta range already authorized by the European Commission. Poulvac Procerta HVT-IBD, the first in the range to receive this authorization, protects against infectious bursal disease and Marek's disease, while Poulvac Procerta HVT-IBD-ND, authorized in 2025, protects against Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease, and Marek's disease in a single dose.
“With the European Commission's marketing authorization of Poulvac Procerta HVT-ND, we are pleased to provide poultry producers across the EU with an additional vaccine option to help prevent Newcastle disease and Marek's disease in chicken flocks,” said Kevin Esch, D.V.M., M.P.H. Ph.D., Dipl. ACVP, Executive Vice President and President, Research and Development at Zoetis. “In addition, the EU approval is significant because it unlocks export opportunities for poultry producers in southeast Asian countries, where the vaccine is already approved. Our HVT vector platform has a well-established, global record in poultry vaccination, and we look forward to supporting poultry producers in Europe, as well as southeast Asia, with this addition to the Procerta portfolio.”
Industry Reaction to the Approval
The authorization gives poultry producers across the EU another tool to manage flock health, while also opening export opportunities to southeast Asian markets where the vaccine already holds approval.
