Ingelheim/Germany, 17 April 2008 - Prof. Hans Nauwynck, Prof. Joaquim Segalés as well as Danja Wiederkehr together with Dr. Xaver Sidler are the winners of the first ever European PCV21 Research Award, initiated and sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health.

The awards were recently presented to the award winners by Prof. Maurice Pensaert, former head of the Laboratory of Virology of the Ghent University and Dr. Gerald Behrens from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health during an official ceremony at the global headquarters of Boehringer Ingelheim in Ingelheim, Germany.

The award honours convincing proposals for research projects in the area of applied immunological PCV2 research. The winning research projects outlines were:

A new approach for the set up of a reproducible model of PMWS2 in pigs (Prof. Hans Nauwynck, Ghent University, Belgium). PMWS in pigs is characterized by poor growth (wasting) and increased mortality. To date it is not possible to induce these clinical signs by artificial infection with PCV2 in a reproducible model. With his work Hans Nauwynck aims to close this gap.

The impact of genetic diversity of PCV2 isolates on vaccine efficacy (Prof. Joaquim Segalés, University of Barcelona and CReSA, Spain). Joaquim Segalés is going to investigate if a novel one-shot PCV2 piglet vaccine protects against both recently described types of PCV2, genotype 1 and 2.

The differences in pathogenicity of Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) subgenotypes in Switzerland (Danja Wiederkehr and Dr. Xaver Sidler, Vetsuisse University, Zuerich, Switzerland). Danja Wiederkehr and Xaver Sidler try to identify which parts of the PCV2 genome are responsible for disease expression.

European Porcine Circovirus (PCV2) Research Award
The European Porcine Circovirus (PCV2) Research Award is an annual award that recognizes research proposals in the area of applied immunological PCV2 research. In total, 75,000&eusro;, three prizes of 25,000€ each are granted to European researchers who convince the independent jury with their outline of innovative research approaches in the field of swine immunology to explore Porcine Circovirus Disease (PCVD).

With the award Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health aims to promote further scientific progress to better understand and ultimately control this devastating swine disease.

The European PCV2 Award has an independent judging panel with leading European scientists in applied porcine research reviewing the entries and deciding upon the winning proposals. The panel is chaired by Professor emeritus Maurice Pensaert from the Laboratory of Veterinary Virology at the University of Ghent in Belgium.

How to apply
Applications for the next European PCV-2 Research award can be submitted by September 15, 2008, via email to Maurice.pensaert@ugent.be or to Petra.Maass@boehringer-ingelheim.com.

Research Proposals that suggest innovative approaches in the field of vaccine immunity, maternal immunity or interaction of PCV-2 with other potential pathogens are eligible.

Proposals shall not exceed 6 pages and must meet the following formal requirements: One page CV of the researcher who is directly responsible

Introduction including literature review

Objectives of the research proposal.

Work programme, incl. estimated timelines

Reference list (also indicate own references in PCV-2 research)

Newly established research teams are specifically encouraged to submit proposals.
Researchers from the NAFTA region can submit entries to the American Annual PCV Associated Diseases Research Award Program, a similar annual award sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health which has been launched in North America in June 2006.

Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 137 affiliates in 47 countries and 38,400 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

In 2006, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of 10.6 billion euro while spending one fifth of net sales in its largest business segment Prescription Medicines on research and development.

Please be advised
This release is from Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Headquarters in Germany. Please be aware that there may be national differences between countries regarding specific medical information, including licensed uses. Please take account of this when referring to the information provided in this document. This press release is not intended for distribution within the U.S.A.

1 PCV 2 = Porcine Circovirus Type 2
2 PMWS = postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome