The European project VAX4ASF —New Technologies for African swine fever — begins with the aim of developing a next-generation vaccine against ASF virus, finding a means to eradicating the disease globally.

Led by the biotechnological pharmaceutical company HIPRA and supported by the European Union under the Horizon Europe program, the goal of VAX4ASF is to provide a definitive, effective and safe solution against the highly contagious, unpredictable and complex ASF virus that affects pigs and wild boars, causing high mortality among the affected animals. The project aims to innovate based on previous vaccination approaches and strategies with the potential for success.

To address the challenges posed by an innovative vaccination approach, VAX4ASF brings together 17 partners from European Union countries, the United States and Kenya, in an international consortium: Spain (Severo Ochoa Center for Molecular Biology, Sabiotec, Anprogapor, INTERPORC, HIPRA, Zabala Innovation), Germany (Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Muenche), United Kingdom (The Pirbright Institute), Kenya (International Livestock Research Institute), Sweden (SVA Swedish Veterinary Agency), Italy (In3diagnostic srl), Netherlands (Wageningen Bioveterinary Research - WUR), Hungary (Institute for Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation of MATE University, PROPHYL), Romania (Univ. of Life Sciences from Timisoara), Poland (PIWet National Veterinary Research Institut) and United States (Kansas State University). Renowned scientists and an innovative pharmaceutical company committed to offering the most ground-breaking vaccine for animal health.

The first consortium meeting, held at the end of January, officially marks the start of this project, which seeks to make a significant impact on animal welfare, the global economy, and the well-being of rural communities.

Global challenge: Fighting ASF

ASF has already caused severe socio-economic impacts, threatening the global pork sector. In fact, outbreaks carry severe socio-economic consequences, causing devastation of rural livelihoods dependent on livestock production, and threatening overall market stability and food security. According to the most recent report from the World Organization for Animal Health, ASF has impacted 52 countries across five world regions since 2021, resulting in over 126,000 pig and 30,000 wild boar infections, with more than 1,809,000 animal losses.

Despite huge international efforts to produce a vaccine against the virus, only control and eradication measures (mostly based on early diagnosis) and implementation of strict sanitary procedures are so far available, generating a huge economic impact other than the need to sacrifice all related animals. The persistent transcontinental spread of the virus poses a significant threat.

Next-generation vaccines as a turning point

The complex nature of the ASF genome and virus particles has been the main factor that has hampered the ASF vaccine development; therefore, despite the intensive research on different vaccine approaches, full commercial vaccine candidates are still lacking.

Controlling the replication level of the virus for next generation of ASF vaccines, as proposed in the project VAX4ASF, will be crucial to change the actual paradigm of vaccine development and management of the disease. The control of the virus will be also supported by the generation of specific -diagnostic tests as well as by the co-creation of the surveillance and ASF control strategies by all key stakeholders.

The project will not only work to facilitate pioneering improvements in the development of new generation vaccines for the effective control of the virus worldwide, but also propose innovative policies for ASF control and management through the continuous involvement of all key stakeholders.