HIPRA, a biotech pharmaceutical company in Spain, have announced a significant step with their first registered vaccine for Atlantic salmon: ICTHIOVAC® ERM (subject to veterinary prescription).
ICTHIOVAC® ERMis an immersion vaccine designed to reduce mortality caused by the O1BT1 (CC1), O1BT2 (CC2), and O2BT1 (CC3) serotypes of Yersinia ruckeri in Atlantic salmon fry during the freshwater phase. In addition to being the first registered ERM vaccine in the sector to include the O2BT1 serotype, it offers improved onset and duration of immunity compared to current market alternatives, while enabling more biomass to be vaccinated per litre/bottle of vaccine.
The aim of the development of ICTHIOVAC® ERMis to provide salmon producers with a vaccine that is able to protect against most of the Y. ruckeri serotypes/biotypes of concern in the field. Yersiniosis outbreaks in Atlantic salmon farms are mainly caused by O1BT1 strains (Gulla et al., 2018; Gulla, S. & Olsen, A. B., 2023). Nonetheless, other strain types have been identified as being of concern for salmon farming. Thus, O2BT1 strains are also associated with yersiniosis outbreaks in Atlantic salmon (Gulla et al., 2018,). Furthermore, recent studies have also described clinical cases of yersiniosis in Atlantic salmon caused by O1BT2 strains (Riborg et al., 2022). Therefore, O1BT1, O2BT1 and O1BT2 strains were chosen as targets of the vaccine and their pathogenicity in Atlantic salmon fries by the natural route of infection was demonstrated during the preclinical phase.
Important to note, ICTHIOVAC ERM ® will be the only vaccine in the dip/immersion vaccines sector that allows the vaccination of 375kg and 600kg (biomass during 1st and 2nd immersions respectively) per litre of vaccine. This significantly reduces the amount of vaccine required, as well as the need for plastic bottles, lowering costs and freight expenses.
Over the past 23 years, HIPRA has been dedicated to supporting Mediterranean aquaculture, developing effective solutions that support fish health and enhance productivity in the aquaculture sector, with a product base of vaccines and diagnostic services.
At HIPRA´s facilities, extensive expertise and technology are combined to produce both registered vaccines and autogenous vaccines, the latter tailored to meet the specific needs of each fish species and production stage, always following strict GMP standards. They have a comprehensive portfolio of associated services, including diagnostics (DIAGNOS), as well as technical and bio-statistical support (HIPRA Stats).
For more information, check the SPC on the EMA website link here: www.ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/2025/20250123164906/anx_164906_es.pdf
Published in the April 2025 issue of International Aquafeed & Fish Farming Technology
