China’s inactivated FMD vaccine antigens pave way for Pakistan’s FMD-free zone

Gwadar Pro

Yangling: A dispatching ceremony held on July 25th heralded the commencement of a partnership between China Agricultural University, China’s Northwest A&F University, and Yangling Jinhai Biotechnology Co., Ltd. in exporting 100,000 doses of trivalent inactivated Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine antigens to Pakistan. The event, hosted at Yangling city, Shaanxi province, China, signals a leap forward in establishing FMD-free zones and bolstering meat exports from the South Asian nation.

These antigens, which have undergone rigorous testing by the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) in Faisalabad, were transported via a cold-chain process and will be utilized to manufacture local FMD vaccines adhering to the Chinese protocol, marking a step towards self-sufficiency in vaccine production and supply for domestic demand in Pakistan.

The biotechnology transfer is underpinned by two key projects: “Demonstration and Promotion of Key Technologies for the Prevention and Control of Major Livestock Diseases in Pakistan” and “Demonstration and Promotion of Key Technologies for the Prevention and Control of Major Livestock Diseases in Pakistan and Afghanistan”.

Since the inception of this collaboration in 2023, Jinhai Biotech, along its academic partners, has conducted epidemiological surveys, vaccine clinical trials and training programs focused on the prevention and control of critical animal diseases across Lahore, Faisalabad, and Islamabad.