R&D update
Needle free applicator on trial for mulesing alternative
Norwood Abbey Limited has entered into an agreement with Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) for the next phase of development of its needle-free applicator to deliver a collagenase protein into sheep as an alternative to mulesing.
The agreement covers the phase 2 development and testing of the device which is designed to deliver substances by way of an application technology that can effectively substitute for surgical mulesing. AWI is funding this phase of the development project.
The phase 2 development project will develop a needle-free injector for drug delivery. The first stage will develop a needle-free injector for administering the mulesing protein, while the second stage will see the injector tested on live sheep (this is in addition to studies already successfully completed).
AWI Animal Health and Welfare Program Manager, Dr Scott Williams, said that preliminary trials on sheep using the needle-free prototype gave the equivalent results as conventional needle delivery.
"This is really exciting news and we are now moving into proof-of-concept trials for this particular injection device with Norwood Abbey," he said.
Following the completion of the testing and assuming all milestones are achieved, a detailed brief and proposal will be prepared for the final product development and commercialisation phase of the needle-free mulesing injector system.
Subject to the success of further trials, both the protein and applicator could be commercially available as early as 2007.