Zoetis, the world's leading animal health company, has signed an agreement with Texas A&M University’s Health Science Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM) to establish a facility for accelerating the development of transboundary and emerging disease vaccines - including those for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), a virus that can cause serious illness in cattle, pigs, and sheep. Working side by side with Zoetis scientists, CIADM staff will collaborate in the development of processes, assays, and formulations used to produce new vaccines.

As part of the agreement, Zoetis is setting up a 12,800-square-foot secure, biocontainment lab off-campus utilizing modular cleanroom technology. The Transboundary and Emerging Disease Vaccine Development Facility is expected to be operational mid-2020, pending approval by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to receive strains of the Zoetis FMD vaccine platform that are non-infectious to cattle and other livestock – and therefore, cannot cause the disease. While FMD vaccines will be the initial focus of the center’s vaccine development, the facility can be expanded to accommodate vaccine development for other emerging diseases in the future.

“We are proud to be working with Texas A&M in the development of this critical vaccine to protect the health of livestock in the U.S. and markets around the world. FMD is one of the most serious diseases for livestock owners, and through an innovative vaccine platform, we can help them reduce the risk of an outbreak and avoid significant economic losses,” said Dr. John Hardham, Research Director in Global Biologics Research and Director of the Zoetis Center for Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. “By combining our internal innovation efforts with world-class research institutions such as Texas A&M, Zoetis is in the best position to bring veterinarians and livestock producers solutions to better predict, prevent, detect and treat disease in the animals under their care.”

Chancellor John Sharp with The Texas A&M University System echoed that sentiment: “The Texas A&M System is uniquely qualified to be on the front lines of protecting animal health care. By protecting animals, we are also protecting human health, our food supply and our economy.”

“I am pleased that Zoetis decided to establish a collaborative effort with CIADM to develop critical animal vaccines. Our combined efforts to bring critical foot-and-mouth vaccines to the veterinarian market utilizing the novel Zoetis platform will be of significant benefit to both Texas and livestock communities around the world,” said Dr. William Jay Treat, Chief Manufacturing Office for CIADM with the A&M Health Science Center. “It is an outstanding entrepreneurial opportunity for the A&M Health Science Center to play a key role in Zoetis’ vaccine efforts.”

As part of establishing the new facility, the CIADM program expects initially to hire up to eight staff scientists in College Station by the first quarter of 2020.

Enhancing rapid response to emerging diseases

The Transboundary and Emerging Disease Vaccine Facility in Texas will be part of the Center for Transboundary and Emerging Diseases within Zoetis, which helps governments prepare for and protect against the threat of outbreaks of devastating diseases in animal health. As infectious diseases are occurring with greater frequency and geographic impact, the Center serves as a virtual hub that brings together Zoetis' capabilities in surveillance and alliances with animal health centers of excellence worldwide - such as Texas A&M - along with expertise in vaccine development, regulatory affairs and flexible manufacturing capacity to effectively prevent and control infectious disease outbreaks.

Zoetis has been on the forefront of vaccine development to help combat many of the most significant infectious diseases including Bluetongue, classical swine fever, porcine epidemic diarrhea, and highly pathogenic avian influenza.