Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica unveils canine Lyme disease vaccine to veterinary channel

St. Joseph, Mo.

-- Boehringer Ingelheim introduced its new canine Lyme disease vaccine to the veterinary market today during a live webcast.

The subcutaneous vaccine, Duramune Lyme, was recently approved by the United States Department of Agriculture for veterinary use as an aid in the prevention of Lyme disease.

Lorie North, senior brand manager of canine biologics for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., says the vaccine delivers multi-outer-surface-protein (Osp) protection and is proven safe and efficacious in multiple field studies. The vaccine achieved a 13-month duration of immunity, the company adds.

BI is making the vaccine available to veterinarians as a stand-alone or in combination to protect against parvovirus and leptospirosis. The vaccine is safe to use with Lyme-positive dogs, but administration of the vaccine is recommended to healthy dogs 9 weeks of age or older, North explains. The best tick prevention strategy includes annual vaccination, tick control on the animal and in the environment, and regular checks for ticks.

Matt Musselman, executive director of BI's companion animal/pet business, says the launch of Duramune Lyme is the first since the full integration of BI following the sale of certain Fort Dodge assets from Pfizer last year.

"We know the market is interested in this disease," Musselman says, "and we have a good strong product to protect pets."

In fact, the company is reintroducing this Lyme vaccine at a time when transmission rates are increasing. "Human Lyme (disease) cases have nearly doubled since 1995," he says. "When we look at human data, it gives a sentinel view of what is happening to our dog population."

Dr. Arnie Zislin, technical manager veterinarian with BI, explains that Duramune Lyme is a two-strain, whole-cell, multi-Osp Borrelia burgdorferi bacterin."(The vaccine) elicits a broad-spectrum antibody response against a wide variety of outer surface proteins, including A, B, C and more, in vaccinated dogs."

For more information, go to www.lymeinfo.com.