Harim & Central Vaccine Research Institute Partner to Combat Evolving Poultry Disease Threat
Seoul, South korea – november 21, 2023 – in a move to bolster the domestic poultry industry, harim Co., Ltd., a leading South Korean food and biotechnology company, and the Central Vaccine Research Institute (CVRI), a key player in animal health vaccine growth, have signed a strategic research agreement. The collaboration aims to address the increasing challenges posed by rapidly mutating infectious bronchitis (IB) virus strains impacting poultry farms nationwide.
This partnership comes at a critical time. Infectious bronchitis, a highly contagious viral disease, causes important economic losses for poultry farmers due to reduced egg production, poor weight gain, and increased mortality. The IB virus is notorious for its high mutation rate, rendering existing vaccines less effective over time and necessitating continuous research and development of new preventative measures. Recent outbreaks in key poultry-producing regions like North Chungcheong Province and south Jeolla Province have highlighted the urgency for improved disease control.
Under the agreement, harim will leverage its extensive network of contracted farms – numbering over 1,200 across South Korea – to monitor respiratory disease prevalence and build a comprehensive database of IB virus strains. This will involve collecting samples and detailed information from affected birds. The CVRI, based in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, will then utilize this data to develop and commercialize next-generation vaccines capable of combating a wider range of IB virus variations.
“This research agreement is a vrey valuable first step to secure future growth engines through win-win development and new technological innovation of both companies,” stated Harim CEO Ho-seok Chung during the signing ceremony. “We will work together to play an important role in opening the future of the lasting livestock industry and ultimately contribute to the strengthening of the domestic poultry industry.”
CVRI CEO Yoon In-joong echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the project. “This agreement is not just a promise on paper, but a foothold for the two companies to share their positions in the poultry industry. I look forward to becoming a more solid partner who makes practical results for each other based on trust and cooperation.”
The collaboration represents a synergy of expertise: Harim’s strength lies in its systematic farm management practices and data analysis capabilities, while the CVRI boasts advanced vaccine development and manufacturing technology. The companies anticipate that triumphant vaccine development will not only enhance disease control among domestic poultry farmers but also strengthen south Korea’s overall biosecurity measures for livestock.
Beyond immediate economic benefits, the partnership aims to create a safer livestock habitat and contribute to the provision of healthier poultry products to consumers. The long-term goal is to establish a robust national defense system against evolving poultry diseases, ensuring the sustainability of the South Korean poultry industry.
Reporter Kim mi-kyung of Medical Today contributed to this report.
