PRV VAX - Cultivation of piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) Resolving a bottleneck in vaccine development for farmed Atlantic Salmon

PRV VAX represents a novel and patentable approach for the development of a vaccine against piscine orthoreovirus (PRV), a significant pathogen in aquaculture and an ongoing threat to animal welfare and industry productivity. PRV is widespread in farmed Atlantic salmon and causes heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI), posing a significant disease challenge in countries with large-scale Atlantic salmon production (Wessel et al. 2017). Currently, there are no PRV vaccines on the market. We will apply foundational knowledge and techniques to establish the first sustained PRV infection in cell culture and thereby unlock the potential for vaccine development against the most common viral disease in farmed Atlantic salmon in Norway. A vaccine to prevent HSMI will significantly reduce morbidity and mortality and improve profitability in Atlantic salmon aquaculture. The PRV VAX project offers a novel approach to producing the first PRV vaccine, which holds significant market potential by contributing to increased fish welfare and reduced production losses. The potential market for a vaccine is vast, targeting Atlantic salmon aquaculture, especially major producing countries such as Norway, Chile, and Scotland, where PRV and associated disease is prevalent. All farmed Atlantic salmon are routinely vaccinated during the freshwater stage of production to protect against several different pathogens. A PRV vaccine component should be implemented as part of this regimen. Notably, no companies currently offer a PRV component in their vaccine portfolio, highlighting a significant market opportunity for the development and use of such a vaccine. A vaccine targeting PRV offers significant commercial potential, given the scale of Atlantic salmon aquaculture and the impact of HSMI.