Supply of Bluetongue Serotype 3 (BTV-3) Vaccine

The Authority is exploring the status of BTV-3 vaccine products that have the potential to be available for use in 2024 or 2025 (either as an authorised product or emergency use under Schedule 4) to help to inform our control strategy for bluetongue and consideration as to whether government intervention is required to facilitate access to the UK livestock sector of any product that may become available. <br/><br/>BTV-3 was identified in northern Europe in September 2023 and the UK had its first cases of BTV-3 in November 2023, most likely from plumes of infected midges blown over from the continent. While there is no evidence of circulation currently, we expect a continued threat of incursion as weather conditions become more favourable to vector activity and virus reproduction. It is widely accepted that access to vaccine will be an important tool to protect the health and welfare of susceptible species and for livestock keepers for whom trade in live animals is important. <br/><br/>The Authority is aware that other serotypes of BTV are circulating in Northern Europe, particularly BTV-4 and BTV-8 and so information on any multivalent BTV-3 vaccines that also contain other serotypes would be of interest. <br/><br/>The Authority is interested in:<br/>- the details of any suitable products currently under development <br/>- the extent of developments<br/>- safety and efficacy testing, timelines for submitting applications for marketing authorisation to the VMD.<br/>- the type of technology used to develop the vaccine, production capacity (current and forecast)<br/>- whether the specific vaccine is authorised elsewhere in the world or based on an already authorised BTV vaccine. <br/>- whether products under development will be monovalent or multivalent and which serotypes would be included in multivalent products. <br/><br/>We are also interested to understand the likely wholesale and retail costs of any product likely to be available. Additional information: This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is not a call for competition. It should be noted that this PIN invites individuals and organisations to express an interest only, and although it is not part of a formal pre-qualification process it may be used to inform discussions with vaccine suppliers. <br/><br/>You will need to express your interest in any potential future tender opportunity once/if a contract notice is published in Find a Tender and on Contract Finder. It should be noted that this PIN invites individuals and organisations to express an interest only. Those wishing to provide information requested here should contact Louise Moizer (louise.moizer@defra.gov.uk), by the end of May to inform our strategy development.