nrdc signs licence agreement with m/s. intervet india pvt.ltd. to commercialise a knowhow for ppr vaccine

Thursday, August 25, 2005

The National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), under the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, has decided to commercialise the know-how for the process for Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) vaccine developed by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, (IVRI).

The technology is a Major BT development in India on animal health care sector. Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) also known as ‘goat plague’ is a highly contagious viral disease of sheep and goats, characterized by fever, oculo-nasal discharge, necrotic ulceration in the oral mucosa, pneumonia, diarrhoea, dehydration and death (or recovery after prolonged illness). Though PPR virus infects sheep and goats, severity of the clinical symptoms are more predominant in goats. The disease is now endemic in India and increase in number of outbreaks is alarming. According to a rough estimate, losses due to PPR are amounting to millions. Therefore the decision to commercialise PPR vaccine will check the disease and prevent large scale losses.

The Agreement was signed between Mr. Lino Camponovo, Managing Director, Intervet India Pvt. Ltd., Pune and Shri Somenath Ghosh, Managing Director, National Research Development Corporation in the presence of other senior officials of the intervet, NRDC and IVRI.

UM/Hb