Moredun has developed a next-generation vaccine against Louping Ill virus (LIV) in sheep. The vaccine has been highly effective in research trials, and we are now partnering with Kernfarm to bring it to market, to make it available to UK sheep farmers in high-need areas.
Louping Ill is a tick-borne viral disease that affects multiple species, including sheep and red grouse, and occasionally cattle, horses, dogs, and humans. The disease can have a high mortality rate in sheep and red grouse, of up to 50% and 80% respectively, when the virus is first encountered.
The previous LIV vaccine was withdrawn in 2017 and no alternative is currently available. Given the recent trend of longer tick seasons and the subsequent increasing spread of the disease, this new vaccine has been welcomed by livestock farmers, vets and the moorland industry. Importantly, the new vaccine is simpler to manufacture, ensuring a more reliable supply for farmers.
Since the usual pharmaceutical route was not possible due to the niche UK market, industry funding is required for commercialisation. We are initially seeking £720,000 to complete Phase 1 of this project. We’re aiming to raise £720,000 for Phase 1 of the Louping Ill vaccine. Donations can be made online or via bank transfer. Whether it’s online or by bank transfer, every donation counts. No matter the size, your support helps us get one step closer to making this vaccine a reality—and we’re truly grateful.
Progress So Far
This tracker shows everything that’s come in—whether donated online or sent by bank transfer—so you can see the full picture of the support from our farming community.
£720k
Target fundraising amount for Phase 1
£10,119
Raised so far
6
Number of online and offline donations
Other Methods of Donating
You can also donate by bank transfer using the following details. If you want to boost your donation by 25p of Gift Aid for every £1 you donate, you will need to download, complete and return this form.
Gift Aid is reclaimed by us from the tax you pay for the current tax year. Your address is needed to identify you as a current UK taxpayer.
Bank Details: Moredun Research Institute, Bank of Scotland
Sort Code: 80-02-24
Account Number: 00127731
Reference: Louping Ill
Please contact Beth Wells: beth.wells@moredun.ac.uk or call 0131 445 6157 for more information.
Phase 1: Manufacturing Transfer (£720,000, 9 months)
The first phase aims to establish large-scale production of the vaccine. At present, we know the vaccine can be made in the laboratory and that this laboratory-produced vaccine works well. However, to produce large quantities of the vaccine for commercial use, the scale of production needs to be vastly increased. This process will be subcontracted to a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation and involves a great deal of work to transfer the production method to an industrial scale and to validate the process so that it is sufficiently robust for commercial production going forward. At the end of this phase, we anticipate having a scaled-up vaccine production process in place that will be used for commercial manufacture for many years.
Phase 2: Regulatory Dossier (£1,470,000, 16 months)
The second phase involves essential studies at Moredun to test the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine produced using the scaled-up process developed in Phase 1. Although we know that the laboratory produced vaccine works in protecting sheep from Louping Ill, we need to ensure the vaccine made using our manufacturing-scale process will also be protective.
Data from these trials will be used to prepare a comprehensive regulatory proposal which will be submitted to the UK regulator, Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), for market registration of the vaccine, which will allow it be sold commercially. We have already been in dialogue with the VMD who have agreed to the data which will be required for registration of the vaccine (which is less than other vaccines due to the limited size of the market for Louping Ill vaccines).
At the end of this phase, we anticipate having detailed information on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine produced at large scale and also a comprehensive regulatory proposal ready for submission to the VMD.
Phase 3: Commercial Manufacturing (£2,820,000, 12 months)
The third and final phase will involve submission and subsequent assessment of the regulatory proposal by the VMD, which could take up to nine months or longer. Concurrently commercial manufacture will commence so that stock is available for sale immediately once regulatory approval has been granted. At the end of this phase, we anticipate having a VMD registered vaccine against Louping Ill ready for sale within the UK.