Scientists from The Pirbright Institute and The Vaccine Group (TVG) have initiated clinical trials for a new vaccine candidate against African swine fever (ASF), a devastating disease threatening global pork production and food security.
The trials will evaluate the vaccine's efficacy by exposing vaccinated pigs to what researchers describe as a "virulent" strain of the virus through models designed to mimic natural infection routes. This represents a significant step forward in the global fight against a disease that has decimated pig populations worldwide.
Global Impact of African Swine Fever
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, 64 countries and territories reported ASF presence between January 2022 and March 2025, resulting in the loss of more than two million pigs, primarily in Europe. The rapid geographical expansion of the disease has elevated concerns among veterinary authorities and pork producers globally.
"This massive geographical expansion makes ASF a truly global issue and the risk of further dissemination into disease-free areas is considered high," said Dr. Chris Netherton, Pirbright's ASF vaccinology group leader.
The threat has also sparked political debates in the UK regarding investment in the Animal and Plant Health Agency's (APHA) Weybridge headquarters, highlighting the strategic importance of disease prevention infrastructure.
Innovative Vaccine Technology
The vaccine candidate represents the culmination of over six years of collaboration between The Pirbright Institute and TVG. Their partnership was recognized last year with an Industry Partnership Award from the UK Research and Innovation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
Jeremy Salt, TVG's Chief Executive, explained the vaccine's innovative approach: "The vaccine delivers several antigenic proteins derived from the ASF virus and is inherently compatible with a DIVA approach to diagnostics and surveillance."
DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) compatibility represents a crucial advancement, allowing veterinary authorities to distinguish between vaccinated animals and those naturally infected with the virus—a critical feature for disease surveillance and control programs.
Addressing Current Limitations
Despite the severity of the global ASF situation, effective vaccination options remain limited. While some live attenuated vaccines have been deployed in Southeast Asia, they have raised significant safety concerns among veterinary experts.
"There is no widely available vaccine against ASF even for the genotype II that is the cause of the current global epidemic," Salt noted, emphasizing the significant gap this new vaccine candidate aims to fill.
The development team believes their approach could overcome safety issues associated with current experimental vaccines while providing robust protection against the disease.
Economic and Welfare Implications
The successful development of an effective ASF vaccine would have far-reaching implications beyond animal health. Salt highlighted the broader impact: "The development of an effective vaccine has enormous value from an animal welfare, food security and commercial perspective."
For the pork industry, which has suffered devastating economic losses due to ASF outbreaks, an effective vaccine could provide much-needed stability and protection against future outbreaks.
Next Steps
Dr. Netherton indicated that results from the current trials would be published as soon as they become available. The scientific community and pork producers worldwide will be watching closely, as positive outcomes could signal a turning point in the global fight against African swine fever.
The researchers' commitment to rapid publication of results reflects the urgency of addressing this global animal health crisis and the potential significance of their findings for international disease control efforts.
