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Key Takeaways Zoetis secured EU approval for Poulvac Procerta HVT-ND to protect against two poultry diseases in one dose.Zoetis said the vaccine can be administered in ovo or at hatch, simplifying vaccination schedules. ZTS expands its Poulvac Procerta portfolio as recombinant vector vaccines gain wider adoption. Zoetis (ZTS - Free Report) announced that the European Commission has awarded marketing authorization for Poulvac Procerta HVT-ND, a recombinant vector vaccine that protects chickens against Newcastle disease and Marek's disease with a single dose. The approval strengthens ZTS’ poultry vaccine portfolio in the EU while offering producers another option to safeguard commercial flocks against two economically important viral diseases.
The vaccine can be administered either in ovo to 18-19-day-old embryonated eggs or through subcutaneous injection at hatch. It uses the herpesvirus of turkey (HVT) as its vector, an avirulent virus that has been used in poultry vaccination for nearly two decades. By expressing an antigen from the Newcastle disease virus, the vaccine stimulates immunity against Newcastle disease while simultaneously protecting against Marek's disease. The dual protection in a single-dose regimen is expected to simplify vaccination schedules and reduce handling requirements.
ZTS Wins EU Approval Amid Rising Poultry Disease ConcernsThe authorization comes as Newcastle disease continues to pose a significant threat to commercial poultry production across Europe. The disease is classified as notifiable under the EU animal health regulations due to its highly contagious nature and its ability to cause substantial mortality and production losses. Recent confirmed outbreaks in Germany, Spain and Poland have underscored the importance of preventive vaccination in limiting the spread of infection and protecting flock health.
Zoetis shares have plunged 39.4% year to date compared with the industry’s 2.9% decline.
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The approval also carries commercial significance beyond the EU market. Poulvac Procerta HVT-ND is already authorized in more than 35 countries worldwide, including several Southeast Asian markets. The European Commission's decision is expected to support export opportunities for poultry producers by broadening access to a vaccine that is already recognized in key international markets.
The latest authorization further expands Zoetis' Poulvac Procerta portfolio in Europe. The franchise already includes Poulvac Procerta HVT-IBD, which protects against infectious bursal disease and Marek's disease and Poulvac Procerta HVT-IBD-ND, authorized in 2025, which provides protection against Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease and Marek's disease through a single-dose vaccination. The addition of Poulvac Procerta HVT-ND gives poultry producers another vaccination option that can be tailored to different disease prevention strategies.
The approval also reinforces Zoetis' position in the global poultry vaccine market, where recombinant vector vaccines continue to gain traction because of their ability to provide broad protection while simplifying immunization programs.
With EU authorization now secured, ZTS is well-positioned to expand the adoption of its HVT vector platform across the region. The launch is expected to support efforts to improve flock health, reduce disease-related losses and enhance the efficiency of poultry production, while strengthening Zoetis' presence in one of the world's largest animal health markets.
ZTS’ Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderZoetis currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Some better-ranked stocks in the biotech sector are Liquidia Corporation (LQDA - Free Report) , Novavax (NVAX - Free Report) and Amarin (AMRN - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
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