Immunocorp Animal Health AS secures major research contract

Immunocorp Animal Health AS (IAH), a wholly owned subsidiary of Biotec Pharmacon ASA, has been awarded a major research and development contract by the European Commission.

The contract has been issued under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) for research and technological development. Entitled "Training network on protective immune modulation in warm water fish by feeding glucans” and focusing on the IAH glucan product MacroGard, the contract will be undertaken by nine partners from Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, England, Germany and Poland. The contract has a total remit of NOK 24 million (EUR 3 million) over four years.

MacroGard is currently sold as an ingredient in animal feed to strengthen the innate immune system. The research contract will enable the company to document new applications for MacroGard and strengthen the brand as the world’s best-documented glucan for use in animal feed.

Today many aquaculture companies struggle with the challenge of controlling disease outbreaks. Evidence shows that MacroGard is an important supplement in salmon feed during periods of increased disease exposure, and through the research contract IAH expects to broaden the application of MacroGard to a variety of other aquaculture species.

Marie Curie Initial Training Networks awarded 240 million euro in 2007 for research and training activities. They are extremely competitive because of their prestige and high remuneration value. For the 2007 call 905 initial applications were received from across Europe of which only the top 65 were selected for funding.

“The project is to work with the protective effect of beta glucans in fish feed and strengthen the documentation of our product MacroGard,” says Managing Director Rolf Nordmo in Immunocorp Animal Health AS.