The Rural Voice, 1986-08, Page 15I
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Graeme McRae, president of Vetrepharm Inc., persuaded 33 veterinarians to invest in the company.
Formerly a marketing salesman for a large drug company, McRae and his partners are committed to
research and development in the field of animal health.
While Vetrepharm researchers
are tackling research into a number
of animal diseases, their most ex-
citing work is the development of
immunostimulants, used to treat
viral diseases.
In the past, McRae says, animal
diseases have been treated largely
by antibiotics, even though there's
always the danger that drug
residues could show up in either
the meat or milk.
"Our basic research," he notes,
"is on the biological control of
disease." Vetrepharm researchers
decided to investigate the possibili-
ty of developing a vaccine that
would boost the immune system of
animals (and potentially, humans)
against viruses that cause flu,
colds, etc. By studying the
literature, researchers pinpointed a
certain bacterium which produces
a strong immune reaction when in-
jected into an animal. The
bacterium, however, was toxic and
also produced serious side effects.
The challenge for Vetrepharm's
research team "was to try to
develop a product giving us
beneficial results but no side ef-
fects," says McRae.
The result was Equimune, the
world's first immuno -therapeutic
drug to treat the common
respiratory ailment of rhino-
pneunonitis in horses. McRae
hopes the drug will be licensed by
the Department of Agriculture
later this summer. In Vetrepharm
tests, the vaccine has shown an 80
to 85 per cent recovery rate in six
to seven days, reports Alkemade.
Once the drug is licensed for
horses, Vetrepharm researchers
will try to produce similar vaccines
for diseases in cattle and other
animals. Also, Vetrepharm is
already talking with the U.S. Army
about using the vaccine with
soldiers returning from Third
World postings. The im-
munostimulant could potentially
wipe out viruses picked up in these
countries. Other medical resear-
chers, McRae says, think im-
munostimulants could eventually
be used in the treatment of such
human diseases as cancer and
AIDS.
Another Vetrepharm product is
Glanvac-6, which treats caseous
lymphadenitis (better known as
"cheesy glands") in sheep and
goats. Glanvac is the only licensed
vaccine in Canada to treat this
glandular disease which affects up
to 75 per cent of all sheep and
goats. McRae says jokingly, "I
can't think that two Australians
brought up in sheep had anything
to do with that (vaccine develop-
ment) in Canada."
Research is also progressing on
another drug that could be a major
breakthrough in veterinary
medicine. During embryo transfers
in cows, McRae says, the cows are
super -ovulated with a follical
stimulating hormone (FSH).
Vetrepharm researchers are ex-
perimenting with pituitary glands
from pigs to create FSH and are
getting a much better success rate
in embryo tests with cows. McRae
is optimistic that this product will
be on the market by September.
Ironically, while creating one
drug to increase fertility,
Vetrepharm researchers are also
experimenting with a vaccine to
link immune systems and the
reproductive system to create a
vaccine preventing pregnancy.
That development, McRae says,
AUGUST 1986 13