Porcine circovirus research projects from France and Spain awarded

Ingelheim, Germany, 2. March 2012 – For the fifth time, the European PCV2 Research Award sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim funds research projects related to Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) infection and associated diseases. Nine high quality research proposals were submitted from seven different countries (UK, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, and France).

Infections with PCV2 caused economical losses to the pig industry in the past, mostly by affecting growing and fattening pigs. Now, as very effective piglet vaccines are available, clinical disease in pigs is seldomly observed. Still many questions related to PCV2 remain unanswered. Among others: Is it possible to eradicate PCV2? Does PCV2 vaccination influence viral evolution? What is the impact of PCV2 on sows?

These questions will be adressed by the research projects selected by the independent review board for the 2011 awards:

• Evaluation of Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) eradication feasibility by massive vaccination of both sows and piglets (Dr. Marina Sibila, CReSA and Universitat Autònoma, Barcelona, Spain).
• Effect of long term PCV2 systematic vaccination on viral evolution (Dr. Tuija Kekarainen, CReSA and Universitat Autònoma, Barcelona, Spain).
• Study of PCV2 transplacental transmission after intranasal infection (Dr. Beatrice Grasland, Anses – LERAPP laboratory, Ploufragan, France).

The 2011 European PCV2 research awards were recently presented to the succesful investigators by the head of the independent review board, Prof. Maurice Pensaert, former head of the Laboratory of Virology of the Ghent University in Belgium, and Dr Erick Lelouche, Head of Global Marketing Animal Health at Boehringer Ingelheim. The ceremony took place at the global headquarters of Boehringer Ingelheim in Ingelheim, Germany.

Boehringer Ingelheim, the leading company in PCV2 vaccines, intends to continuously support independent applied research in the field of PCV2 immunity, pathogenesis , epidemiology and interaction with other (potential) pathogens. A maximum of three prizes, worth 25,000 euros each, are granted to European researchers every year, to advance scientific knowledge in these areas.

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.
The award has an independent review board with leading European scientists in applied porcine research reviewing the entries and deciding upon the winning proposals.

How to apply
Applications for the next European PCV2 Research Award can be submitted by September 10, 2012. For more details please contact Maurice.pensaert@ugent.be or Petra.Maass@boehringer-ingelheim.com.

Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 145 affiliates and more than 42,000 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.

As a central element of its culture, Boehringer Ingelheim pledges to act socially responsible. Involvement in social projects, caring for employees and their families, and providing equal opportunities for all employees form the foundation of the global operations. Mutual cooperation and respect, as well as environmental protection and sustainability are intrinsic factors in all of Boehringer Ingelheim’s endeavors.

In 2010, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of about 12.6 billion euro while spending almost 24% of net sales in its largest business segment Prescription Medicines on research and development.

Updated information on the corporation’s annual results in 2011 will be available on April 24th, 2012.