Boehringer Ingelheim Launches Swine Industry’s First PCV2d-Based Vaccine

Duluth, Ga. — To stay ahead on porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD) management, Boehringer Ingelheim has launched the swine industry’s first porcine circovirus Type 2d-based baculovirus vector vaccine. The new vaccine, d-FENSE, demonstrates efficacy and robustness under severe PCVAD conditions.

Having first been identified in 2012, today PCV2d is the predominant genotype circulating in the United States, accounting for more than 90% of PCV2 infections.1–3

An extensive body of research has demonstrated that Ingelvac CircoFLEX®, a PCV2a-based vaccine, can provide heterologous cross-protection against PCV2d.1,4­–7 In most cases, producers can rely on this trusted vaccine to protect their herds from the harmful effects of PCVAD. However, in certain situations, some pigs within vaccinated herds will still present clinical signs of PCVAD and require a different approach. d-FENSE is specifically designed to help swine herds that are struggling with severe PCVAD presentations.

“When severe PCV2d infections linger in the ‘corners of the room’ among vaccinated populations, producers need flexible options to address this and provide their herds with complete protection,” said Eduardo Fano, Technical Manager for PCV2 and Mycoplasma Products at Boehringer Ingelheim. “d-FENSE offers the industry’s first solution specific to the PCV2d strain and provides producers and veterinarians another tool in their PCVAD management toolbox.”

d-FENSE is a single-dose PCV2 vaccine, used for the vaccination of healthy, susceptible pigs 3 weeks of age or older as an aid in the prevention of lymphoid depletion, inflammation and colonization of lymphoid tissue, and as an aid in reduction of the magnitude of viremia associated with PCV2. In addition, d-FENSE utilizes the proprietary ImpranFLEX® adjuvant, an aqueous-based (non-oil) polymer adjuvant that improves the immune response within pig, delivering faster, longer-lasting disease protection.

The vaccine’s efficacy was demonstrated in a vaccination-challenge study that compared pigs separated into three groups: non-vaccinated controls, pigs receiving INGELVAC CIRCOFLEX, a PCV2a-based vaccine and pigs receiving d-FENSE, a PCV2d-based vaccine. In a study replicating worst-case PCVAD field conditions, pigs vaccinated with d-FENSE and INGELVAC CIRCOFLEX both demonstrated a reduction in lymphoid lesion severity and viral replication compared to non-vaccinated pigs. In terms of robustness, the d-FENSE group scored significantly better on pathology and virology parameters than the INGELVAC CIRCOFLEX group.8 In the same study, the number of pigs requiring treatment in the acute phase of PCVAD was significantly less among pigs vaccinated with d-FENSE compared to pigs vaccinated with INGELVAC CIRCOFLEX.8

“Dynamic problems require dynamic solutions,” said Dr. John Waddell, Director, Key Account Veterinarians, Swine at Boehringer Ingelheim. “PCV2 isn’t standing pat, so neither should our approach to controlling it. With d-FENSE, Boehringer Ingelheim is helping producers tackle this complex disease with confidence.”