NovaVive Inc., an animal health immunobiology company, today announced that a paper has been published in the Australian Veterinary Journal (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/avj.13156). The paper, “The innate immune stimulant Amplimune® is safe to administer to young feedlot cattle”, summarizes a research study conducted by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.
The study aimed to evaluate the safety of Amplimune (MWCF-based immune stimulant) in weaner Angus cattle. The cattle were assigned to one of six treatment groups (n = 10 per group): 2 ml Amplimune intramuscularly; 2 ml Amplimune subcutaneously; 5 ml Amplimune intramuscularly; 5 ml Amplimune subcutaneously; 5 ml saline intramuscularly; and 5 ml saline subcutaneously on day 0 following transportation. Body temperature, body weight, concentrations of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-12), and haematology parameters were measured at various times up to 96 hours post-treatment.
There were no adverse effects observed from Amplimune treatments. Amplimune induced an increase in circulating cytokine TNFα concentrations, total white blood cell count, and lymphocyte counts, indicative of activation of the innate immune system – without causing an excessive inflammatory response. The research team concluded that Amplimune can be safely administered to beef cattle at the dose rates and via the routes of administration investigated in this study.
The researchers noted that infectious disease has a significant impact on livestock production. Availability of alternatives to antibiotics to prevent and treat disease is required to reduce reliance on antibiotics while not impacting animal welfare.
About Amplimune
Amplimune is approved by regulators in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates to reduce the clinical signs and mortality associated with E. coli K99 diarrhea in neonatal calves. The product is an emulsion of mycobacterium cell wall fractions (MCWF) that enhances innate immunity to fight bacterial infections without the use of antibiotics. When injected into the animal, Amplimune enhances both innate and adaptive immune responses to fight bacterial infections. Amplimune is OMRI listed in the USA and Canada for use in organic production.
About CSIRO
CSIRO is Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst. We solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Our collaborative research turns science into solutions for food security and quality; clean energy and resources; health and wellbeing; resilient and valuable environments; innovative industries; and a secure Australia and region.
About NovaVive Inc.
NovaVive is a private company founded in July, 2014. The Company has an advanced veterinary immunotherapeutic platform based on mycobacterium cell wall fraction (MCWF) technology with 5 regulator-approved products in the USA (three of these are regulator-approved in Canada; two in Australia; three in New Zealand; and two in UAE). Certain MCWF formulations have demonstrated the capability of reducing the reliance on antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial diseases of cattle and horses or effectively treating viral equine respiratory disease. Other formulations have been developed as anticancer therapies in dogs and horses.
The Company’s development plan is to identify additional livestock and companion animal diseases that may be effectively treated with its immunotherapeutic technology platform.
