World's First Cattle Vaccine to Reduce E. coli O157 Threat Receives Full Licensing Approval...( Econiche(TM) now available to red...),Health

Econiche(TM) now available to reduce risk of food and water contamination

BELLEVILLE, ON, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (TSX: BNC), a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, today announced that Econiche(TM), the world's first vaccine designed to reduce the shedding by cattle of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7, has received full licensing approval from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Econiche is now available for unrestricted use by Canadian cattle producers and their veterinarians.

Econiche is a Canadian discovery developed by Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. The vaccine has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of E. coli O157 shed into the environment by beef and dairy cattle and, in turn, reduce the risk to human health. The Econiche full license arrives on the heels of an outbreak in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, where more than 200 people are reporting symptoms and there are almost 40 lab-confirmed cases of human illness including one case of Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). The illnesses are associated with a Harvey's Restaurant in that community. Another outbreak involves iceberg lettuce, with 50 people made ill in Michigan, Illinois and Ontario since early September, 2008.

Most strains of E. coli are harmless but some, like O157:H7, can cause severe illness and even be fatal when ingested by humans from contaminated meat, vegetables or water. Vaccination of cattle with Econiche can help reduce the risk of food and waterborne contamination with E. coli O157:H7.

"Cows carry E. coli O157:H7 but they don't get sick. Where the disease comes from is people encountering contaminated food or water, usually from cow feces," said Dr. Brett Finlay, University of British Columbia microbiologist and bacterial diseases expert, whose research led to the development of the vaccine. "If we block the colonization of cows by O157, we basically decrease the numbe
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