Result of KHV Study


 

TIDMHML 
 
RNS Number : 3512X 
Henderson Morley PLC 
13 August 2009 
 
13 August 2009 
 
HENDERSON MORLEY PLC 
(AIM: HML) 
("Henderson Morley" or "the Company") 
 
Result of KHV Study 
 
The Board of Henderson Morley, the AIM quoted biotechnology company, is pleased 
to announce the results of the Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) Vaccine field studies that 
have now been completed in a sub-contract research facility. 
 
Highlights 
  *  Henderson Morley's KHV vaccine field study has produced positive results 
 
  *  In two of the vaccine groups 96% and 93% of the vaccinated fish survived the 
  study and remained healthy 
 
  *  Two successful vaccine candidates are now being developed further with a view to 
  presenting these candidates to Schering Plough Animal Health 
 
  *  KHV disease is classed as a 'Notifiable-Disease' by the World Organisation of 
  Animal Health. KHV is therefore a pathogen of growing economic and environmental 
  importance 
 
 
About the Study 
In this study, eight different vaccine candidates were studied. These candidates 
were formulated to examine the effects of different doses of vaccine, addition 
of purified virus particles, formulation of candidates with different adjuvants 
(components of the vaccine that boost immune responses), and different 
combinations of adjuvants. Adjuvants, that the Directors believe, have never 
been used in fish vaccines before, were also examined. 
 
Ten groups of Koi carp were held in isolated tanks each with individual water 
supplies, of which eight groups were vaccinated with candidate vaccines. One 
group received no vaccine (negative control), and another group were survivors 
of prior KHV infection, (positive controls). 
 
Results 
The unvaccinated negative control group died from KHV infection, as did the fish 
in some of the unsuccessful low dose vaccine groups. The Board is very pleased 
that in two of the vaccine groups, 96% and 93% of the vaccinated fish survived, 
and remained healthy following the virus challenge and for the month following 
the virus challenge. Other vaccine groups had 76% and 79% survival; however 
these candidates are not being selected for further development. 
 
Vaccine Candidates 
The candidates used in this study utilise inactivated virus, so pose no threat 
of infection either to the vaccinated fish or other fish in the same tank or 
pond. The candidates comprises proprietary methods and techniques developed 
in-house at the Birmingham (UK) laboratories and do not have PREPS or 
L-particles in their manufacture. New patents are in preparation to protect the 
current lead candidates. 
 
KHV 
KHV is a serious viral infection that infects all species of carp, including the 
high value and in-bred ornamental fish, Koi carp. The virus was first isolated 
in 1996, and has now been detected in over 20 countries. Consequently, in 2006 
the World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE) gave KHV disease 
'Notifiable Disease' status. As a Notifiable Disease there is a legal obligation 
to report any suspicion of a clinical outbreak of Koi Herpes Virus disease to 
the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI).KHV is therefore a pathogen of growing 
economic and environmental importance. 
 
A single fish infected by KHV may rapidly spread the disease and this often 
kills between 90% and 100% of fish in the infected pond or tank, with the 
potential to devastate entire fish farms. The virus is temperature sensitive and 
is mainly active in warm weather conditions. There is currently no available 
anti-viral treatment or vaccine licensed in the EU, US or Japan. 
 
A particular problem with KHV, which is similar to other herpes viruses in 
humans and animals, is the ability to cause latent infection. Once a fish has 
been infected, or exposed to the live virus, the infection may recur (usually in 
response to stressors such as high water temperature), without further exposure 
to the virus. Once infected, fish may also shed the virus into a pond, even in 
the absence of symptoms. 
 
Live virus challenge 
Approximately two months after receiving the vaccines (to allow the fish to 
develop immune responses), fish were challenged with live Koi Herpes virus that 
had been characterised by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a technique used in 
molecular biology for creating multiple copies of DNA from a sample which 
results in a very accurate diagnosis and typing of virus infections. 
 
Further development 
The two successful vaccine candidates are now being developed further with a 
view to presenting these candidates to Schering Plough Animal Health under the 
terms of the development and option to license agreement as soon as possible. 
 
Chairman Andrew Knight commented "We are extremely pleased with the results of 
this study which demonstrate a level of efficacy for our vaccine technology and 
reinforces our decision to transform Henderson Morley into a pure play vaccine 
company by 2011. We look forward to bringing further news on this exciting 
development in due course. " 
 
 
=-END-- 
 
 
 
ENQUIRIES: 
 
HENDERSON MORLEY PLC                            0121 442 4600 
Andrew Knight, Chairman 
 
BISHOPSGATE COMMUNICATIONS LTD 0207 562 3350 
(Public Relations) 
Maxine Barnes 
Gemma O'Hara 
 
BREWIN DOLPHIN INVESTMENT BANKING            0113 241 0126 
(Nominated Adviser) 
Neil Baldwin 
 
RIVINGTON STREET CORPORATE FINANCE LTD    020 7562 3380 
(Broker) 
Monisha Varadan 
 
 
Notes to Editors 
 
World aquaculture has grown significantly during the past half-century. In the 
early 1950s production was below 1 million tonnes and by 2004 it was reported to 
have risen to 59.4 million tonnes, with a value of US$70.3 billion. This 
represents an average annual increase of 7.7 percent in value over reported 
figures for 2002. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
   END 
 
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