(Yicai Global) Nov. 9 -- German drug giant Boehringer Ingelheim Group unveiled its first swine fever vaccine developed in China at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Nov. 7.

Ingelvac targets viruses prevalent among China’s pig farms but can only be used to ward off the classical swine fever virus, online news outlet The Paper reported. As yet there is no effective vaccine or treatment for the African swine fever that hit China in 2018.

The drugmaker’s plant in Taizhou, eastern Jiangsu province, will produce the vaccine, which it is expected to be commercially available by early next year, said Dai Huawei, head of Boehringer Ingelheim’s China animal health business.

The Ingelheim-based company set up its Asian Veterinary R&D Center in China and initiated its R&D project for swine fever vaccines in 2012. It successfully completed clinical trials for the vaccines in 2017, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs approving it on June 10.

Founded in 1885, family owned Boehringer is now one of the world’s top 20 medicine developers with operations in three main areas: human health, animal health and biopharmaceuticals. This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the company’s official presence in China, where it has invested more than EUR300 million (USD356.2 million).

Boehringer announced in July an additional investment of EUR450 million in the country over the next five years.

Editor: Peter Thomas