Research and global marketing of veterinary vaccines against avian influenza: 2019-2023 technological surveillance

Abstract

The characteristics of the avian influenza virus —and its concerning worldwide spread— have led to intense and unprecedented scientific and industrial production. However, knowledge gaps remain regarding the best strategies to prevent epidemiological events in the future. Thus, this study aimed to identify the research and commercial trends of veterinary vaccines against avian influenza type A in farm animals and pets during the period 2019-2023. The Scopus database was used as the primary source of information (12,162 keywords, 2,437 scientific articles, 659 academic journals, and 46 countries) for the academic analysis, while technical information posted on official institutional websites (135 commercial formulations, 24 companies, and 17 countries) was collected to conduct the industrial analysis. The terms “influenza vaccine” (34.1 %, 6,144/12,162) and “inactivated vaccine” (23.4 %, 1,440/12,162) exhibited the highest frequencies of use in science; the journal Vaccine was the most productive in terms of articles (11.8 %, 288/2,437), and the countries with the most publications were the USA (25.2 %, 622/2,437) and China (23.1 %, 564/2,437). The most internationally marketed vaccines were inactivated (874 %, 118/135), avian (47.4 %, 64/135), and combined (52.6 %, 71/135) vaccines as well as those containing Newcastle antigens (38.0 %, 27/71). In conclusion, despite advances in genetic engineering and biotechnology, there will be no changes in the scientific and industrial sectors that affect the global dominance of inactivated vaccines for the prevention of avian influenza type A in farm animals and pets in the short term.