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Merck Animal Health Expands Pinkeye Vaccine Portfolio Through New Licensing Agreement

August 19, 2025

Licensing deal with Addison Biological adds Moraxella Bovoculi Bacterin

MADISON, N.J., March 3, 2020 – Merck Animal Health (known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada) has announced an agreement with Addison Biological Laboratory, Inc., to market the USDA conditionally licensed Moraxella Bovoculi Bacterin. The product is the only commercially available vaccine for the prevention of pinkeye due to Moraxella bovoculi in cattle.

Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) – commonly called pinkeye – is a highly contagious and costly disease that negatively impacts cattle production, causing estimated losses of more than $150 million annually in the U.S. Moraxella bovis, has long been identified as the bacteria causing pinkeye. However, more recently M. bovoculi has been frequently isolated in pinkeye cases, including in cases of winter pinkeye. To complicate prevention, both M. bovoculi and M. bovis often are found together.1

“Options to help prevent M. bovoculi have been limited, so we are pleased to provide bovine veterinarians and producers with this vaccine,” says Tim Parks, D.V.M., ruminant technical services manager for Merck Animal Health. “Moraxella Bovoculi Bacterin includes eight different M. bovoculi isolates – and when used in conjunction with Vision® or Piliguard® vaccines for M. bovis – provides comprehensive pinkeye protection.”

Pinkeye commonly is associated with summer grazing, but it can occur year-round.
“For beef cattle, pinkeye vaccines for M. bovis and M. bovoculi fit well into branding and/or weaning protocols, and for dairy, might be given when moving animals into larger group pens,” says Dr. Parks. “Consult with your veterinarian for specific guidance and to create a holistic approach for pinkeye control – including vaccination, fly control and environmental management – that will provide the best results for your herd.”

Conditionally licensed products meet the same safety testing and purity requirements as fully licensed products. Administer a 2-mL dose subcutaneously to cattle 14 weeks of age or older and repeat vaccination in 21 days. Moraxella Bovoculi Bacterin is an addition to the Merck Animal Health pinkeye portfolio that includes vaccines that offer protection against M. bovis, namely 20/20 Vision 7 with SPURTM, Piliguard Pinkeye-1 Trivalent and Piliguard Pinkeye+7.

About Merck Animal Health

For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter at @MerckAH.

References:

  1. Loy JD, Brodersen BW (2014) Moraxella spp. isolated from field outbreaks of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis: a retrospective study of case submissions from 2010 to 2013. J Vet Diagn Invest 26:761–768.