The National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), under the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR), ministry of science and technology, has signed an agreement with Intervet India Pvt Ltd for the commercialisation of the process know-how for Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) vaccine developed by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, (IVRI). The technology is a Major BT development in India on animal health care sector.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), also known as 'goat plague,' is a highly contagious viral disease of sheep and goats, characterized by fever, oculo-nasal discharge, necrotic ulceration in the oral mucosa, pneumonia, diarrhoea, dehydration and death (or recovery after prolonged illness). Though PPR virus infects sheep and goats, severity of the clinical symptoms are more predominant in goats. The disease is now endemic in India and increase in number of outbreaks is alarming. According to a rough estimate, losses due to PPR are amounting to millions. Therefore the decision to commercialise PPR vaccine will check the disease and prevent large-scale losses.

The Agreement was signed between Lino Camponovo, managing director, Intervet India Pvt. Ltd., Pune and Somenath Ghosh, managing director, NRDC.