Merck Animal Health (MSD) announced on the 17 September that, following a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP), the European Commission has granted the marketing authorisation for the veterinary medicinal product NOBILIS® IB Primo QX to protect chickens against viral infectious bronchitis caused by QX-like variants of infectious bronchitis virus.

NOBILIS IB Primo QX will be the first vaccine developed using SPHEREON^® technology in the EU, which freeze-dries live vaccines to small, highly soluble particles (spheres) that allow for packaging in light-weight aluminum cups in convenient dose sizes.

The spheres produced by SPHEREON technology dissolve easily and quickly for improved preparation and administration of the vaccine.

“We are pleased that the European Commission has approved NOBILIS IB Primo QX,” said Ian Tarpey, Executive Director, Global Poultry R&D, MSD Animal Health.

“The QX strain of infectious bronchitis virus has become increasingly common, and NOBILIS IB Primo QX will be an important tool for producers due to its proven efficacy and its easy administration method.”

NOBILIS IB Primo QX is given to chickens from one day of age or older by spraying onto the chickens or by applying by eye-drop, and provides protection for eight weeks.

The vaccine can be mixed with NOBILIS IB Ma5 to provide additional protection against Massachusetts strains of the infectious bronchitis virus.

Further Reading

You can find out more about infectious bronchitis by clicking here.