The NSW Government pilot project to fast-track an mRNA vaccine for border disease virus (BDV) has been successfully manufactured for the first time in NSW.
This is one element of the NSW Government’s comprehensive plan to boost biosecurity across NSW – which also includes:
- working to recruit the state’s first independent Biosecurity Commissioner
- $95 million to protect against the spread of red imported fire ants
- $41 million to support the transition to mandatory sheep and goat electronic identification to improve biosecurity traceability
- a $10 million Good Neighbour Program to clamp down on pests and weeds on public land
- ongoing support to industry in the transition to management for Varroa mite
- working with the Natural Resource Commission to develop a baseline report on damage from invasive species so that appropriate action can be taken to better protect NSW farmers
- ongoing research and development projects across DPI’s state-wide network of research stations.
The BDV vaccine was manufactured in Sydney by the UNSW RNA Institute after first being developed by US-based biotechnology leader, Tiba Biotech, with input from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Meat & Livestock Australia and the NSW RNA Pilot Facility.
While BDV is not an emergency animal disease, the learnings from this successful pilot project are now being applied to the development of vaccines for lumpy skin disease (LSD) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), from which Australia remains free.
Economic costs of a large multi-state outbreak of FMD alone have been estimated at more than $80 billion over 10 years Australia-wide, which is why the NSW Government is working with state, territory and national governments and animal industries to safeguard livestock from these key biosecurity threats.
The project team are now investigating whether protective antigens, identified by the CFIA, work against LSD.
All work with live viruses is being conducted overseas, while NSW DPI scientists at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute work on establishing the immune response, demonstrating animal safety and optimising the formulation and dose.
Work so far indicates that the test LSD mRNA vaccine is quickly metabolised and cleared from the animal.
Australian regulatory authorities have very strict standards to demonstrate that the vaccine will be cleared from the animal very rapidly and that there is no safety risk to people.
Biosecurity risks present the most pressing threat to the state’s $21.2 billion primary industries sector, with flow-on impacts to our environment and communities.
As instances of biosecurity matters increase in regularity, complexity and severity, this vaccine preparedness work reflects the ongoing commitment of the NSW Government to prioritise biosecurity and safeguard the future of NSW primary industries.
Minister for Agriculture, Regional and Western NSW, Tara Moriarty:
“Developing local capacity to produce vaccines against emergency animal diseases is a critical priority for Australian agricultural industries and the economy.
“Now we have success with a virus which exists in Australia, we are working to establish a vaccine pipeline for priority animal diseases, including lumpy skin disease and foot-and-mouth disease, to ensure Australia can manufacture vaccines during an emergency response.”
“Alongside a range of other biosecurity measures such as the establishment of an Independent Biosecurity Commissioner, the NRC Review and a $10 million Good Neighbour Program to clamp down on pests and weeds, the Government continues to prioritise biosecurity and safeguard the future of NSW primary industries.”
