Poultry Innovation Timeline
SEVEN DECADES OF REINVENTING FOR POULTRY PROTECTION, WELFARE AND PRODUCTIVITY
Our motivation is innovation. From our early years of discovery in
poultry medicine to our 21st century pharmaceutical advancements, a rich
heritage of scientific excellence has always been the foundation of our
future and the inspiration for our daily work.
MSD Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving
the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who
care for them. Poultry producers can depend on MSD Animal Health for
more than just medicines – our science helps protect international
public health, ensures food safety and increases protein supplies.
Click each year to learn more.
Our motivation is innovation. From our early years of discovery in
poultry medicine to our 21st century pharmaceutical advancements, a
rich heritage of scientific excellence has always been the foundation
of our future and the inspiration for our daily work.
MSD Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving
the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who
care for them. Poultry producers can depend on MSD Animal Health for
more than just medicines – our science helps protect international
public health, ensures food safety and increases protein supplies.
Rooted in Discovery from the Start
MSD establishes its animal health division (Intervet Inc.) and discovers sulfaquinoxaline, the first poultry coccidiostat.
Coccidiostats are added to poultry feed to combat coccidiosis, a parasitic disease of the intestinal tract, and help improve animal health and welfare.
Creation of First Poultry Vaccine
Intervet develops TREMVAC®-FP, the first fowl pox vaccine for poultry. Before the vaccine, fowl pox was a lethal threat that was highly transmissible and could cause a transient drop in egg production and a reduced growth rate in young birds.
Additionally, the first edition of The MSD Veterinary Manual is published, offering a comprehensive, reliable source of information on all aspects of animal healthcare.
Development of Enduring Poultry Welfare Solutions
Intervet develops anthelmintic fenbendazole, which is still used today against parasites, such as roundworms and hookworms, that are found in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts of chickens.
Since their introduction, benzimidazole drugs have had an extensive therapeutic effect against a broad range of parasite species, and they are still known as one of the safest drugs used in food animals.
Commitment to Healthy Animals and a Healthy Planet
Intervet and Schering-Plough Animal Health create
SPHEREON®, a novel vaccine formulation technology that
freeze-dries vaccines into small, highly soluble spheres that
dissolve in water and can be easily administered to poultry. Because
these spheres dissolve quickly and completely in water – and
containers come in a variety of volumes that can fully dose flocks
of many sizes – producers don’t need to use protective gear or open
multiple individual glass vials, making SPHEREON a convenient and
environmentally-friendly option for poultry farms.
March
A Focus on Firsts: High–Quality Poultry Science Award
MSD Animal Health* announces a call for submissions for its first annual High–Quality Poultry Science Award, which is granted to three recent veterinary or animal science graduates in support of research in poultry health, production and welfare.
*The operating name of MSD’s animal health unit officially changes to MSD Animal Health in 2011.
September
A Focus on Firsts: INNOVAX®-ND-IBD and EXZOLT® Launches
MSD Animal Health launches INNOVAX®-ND-IBD, the first ever biotech-based vaccine that provides life-long protection against three incredibly infectious poultry diseases (infectious bursal disease, Newcastle disease and Marek’s disease), and EXZOLT® (fluralaner), the first systemic treatment for poultry red mite infestations.
March
Expanded Indication for PANACUR® AquaSol
MSD Animal Health receives marketing authorization from the European Commission for the expanded indication of PANACUR® AquaSol to combat three gastrointestinal parasites in chickens. PANACUR AquaSol was originally approved in 2013 for the same indication in pigs to treat three similar types of parasites.
June
Vinovo Partnership
MSD Animal Health announces partnership agreement with Vinovo B.V. to combine its vaccine portfolio with Vinovo’s novel delivery system, making it easier for farmers to deliver poultry vaccines more effectively.
October
EXZOLT® Wins Breakthrough of the Year
MSD Animal Health receives recognition for EXZOLT® as the breakthrough of the year at the 2018 British Free-Range Egg Producers Association Conference.
February
Rapid Genomics Exclusive Agreement
MSD Animal Health collaborates with Rapid Genomics for exclusive rights to the company’s vaccination verification tool, Viral Flex-Seq®, to use in combination with Innovax® vaccines, to optimize and enhance disease outbreak management in poultry.
April
Acquisition of Antelliq
MSD Animal Health acquires Antelliq Corporation and becomes the global leader in animal health digital tracking, traceability and monitoring technology for livestock and companion animals.
January
Introduction of Innoject Pro
MSD Animal Health introduces the Innoject Pro, a subcutaneous chick vaccination technology that provides increased accuracy of injection and greater sustainability during the vaccination process, reducing stress to chicks and improving operator safety.
August
IdentiGEN Acquisition
MSD Animal Health acquires IdentiGEN, a leader in DNA-based animal traceability solutions for livestock and aquaculture that combines species’ unique DNA and data analytics to accurately and precisely trace poultry, beef, seafood and pork that is verifiable from farm to table.
January
EXZOLT® SPC Update
EXZOLT® becomes the first veterinary product centrally registered in the EU to include animal welfare improvement in its Summary of Product Characteristics following a positive opinion from the EMA CVMP.
February
Acquisition of Poultry Sense Limited
MSD Animal Health completes the acquisition of Poultry Sense Limited, broadening its portfolio to enhance health and environmental monitoring technology to the poultry industry.
February
Best New Food Animal Product Award Win
MSD Animal Health is officially presented with the 2020 Best New Food Animal Product Award for NOBILIS® SALENVAC® ETC for poultry, an inactivated, intramuscular, two-dose trivalent Salmonella vaccine.
NOBILIS SALENVAC ETC, registered and launched in the EU in 2020, offers the broadest protection for layers and breeders against three different Salmonella serogroups (B-C-D) and was developed based on the need for broad Salmonella food safety control in poultry farms.