Elanco Animal Health Incorporated announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for TruCan Ultra Lyme-L4, further strengthening its TruCan Ultra vaccine portfolio. The newly approved vaccine is the first and only low-volume (1/2 mL) combination vaccine developed to protect dogs against both Lyme disease and leptospirosis—two infectious diseases that continue to pose growing risks to canine health.

As the latest addition to the TruCan Ultra range, the vaccine delivers the same comprehensive protection offered by the existing 1 mL formulation while requiring only half the injection volume. This enables veterinarians to provide protection against multiple diseases through a single injection, reducing the need for additional shots during wellness visits.

TruCan Ultra Lyme-L4 incorporates Elanco's proprietary PureFil Technology, which is designed to minimize vaccine reactions associated with excess protein content while maintaining strong immune protection. This approach helps support patient comfort without compromising efficacy.

Commenting on the approval, Bobby Modi, Executive Vice President of U.S. Pet Health and Global Digital Transformation at Elanco, stated that the achievement reflects the company's ongoing focus on advancing vaccine innovation. He noted that the highly purified, low-volume combination vaccine provides veterinarians with an effective option to address important vaccination gaps while enhancing the overall vaccination experience for dogs.

The approval comes at a time when awareness of canine infectious diseases continues to grow. According to current veterinary guidance, all dogs are considered at risk of leptospirosis regardless of breed, size, lifestyle, or location. The disease is now classified as a core vaccination requirement under American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommendations. At the same time, Lyme disease is expanding into new geographic regions, while studies indicate that more than 40 percent of dogs living in high-risk endemic areas remain unprotected against Lyme disease despite receiving core vaccinations.

Dr. Jessica Pritchard, Clinical Assistant Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, emphasized that both leptospirosis and Lyme disease continue to be significant health concerns for dogs across the United States. She explained that leptospirosis vaccination is now regarded as essential because exposure risks exist nationwide, including in urban and suburban environments. She added that preventive vaccination, combined with informed discussions between veterinarians and pet owners regarding lifestyle-related risks, is critical for reducing the incidence of these preventable diseases.

Clinical data for the TruCan Ultra Lyme vaccine range demonstrate strong effectiveness, including 92.2 percent protection against naturally occurring infections in highly endemic regions and complete protection in controlled laboratory studies. By combining protection against Lyme disease and leptospirosis into a single injection, the vaccine is expected to improve the vaccination experience for pets, owners, and veterinary professionals alike.

The USDA approval follows the recent authorization of other additions to the TruCan Ultra portfolio, including TruCan Ultra B (Oral), the first oral Bordetella vaccine available in a 1/2 mL dose, and TruCan Ultra CIV H3N2/H3N8, the only bivalent canine influenza vaccine offered in the same low-volume format. Together, these products expand the availability of highly purified, low-volume vaccination options, enabling veterinary teams to customize immunization strategies based on the specific needs of individual dogs.

Elanco expects TruCan Ultra Lyme-L4 to become commercially available and begin shipping within the next month.

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Athian, an innovative platform powered by athian.ai, has recently unveiled a groundbreaking initiative: the world’s first voluntary livestock carbon insetting marketplace. This pioneering endeavor aims to tackle two critical challenges simultaneously: reducing enteric methane emissions and enhancing feed utilization. How? By leveraging cutting-edge feed management products from Elanco Animal Health.

So, what does this mean for farmers and the environment? Let’s break it down:

“Athian’s first carbon credits for dairy are an exciting and crucial step as they demonstrate the ability to tangibly quantify and verify greenhouse gas emissions reductions and create monetary value for farmers for their efforts,” said Paul Myer, CEO of Athian. “This marketplace, specifically designed for the animal protein industry, is different than traditional offsetting carbon marketplaces because it keeps the value—economic value as well as positive environmental value—in the animal protein value chain.”

Enabling Farmers with Economic Opportunities
While farmers are increasingly aware of carbon markets, the current participation rate remains low—only 3% of farmers engage in these markets today, as highlighted by a recent survey referenced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)1. To address this challenge, a novel approach emerges: the creation of an inset market model that collaborates closely with established supply chain partners. By doing so, we simplify the process for farmers to assess and implement stringent verifications, ultimately dismantling barriers to entry and propelling progress forward.

“As a co-creator and seed investor in Athian, we’re excited to see the company reach the milestones that will bring new value to farmers and help them advance toward climate-neutral farming,” said Jeff Simmons, President and CEO of Elanco Animal Health. “As a leader in animal health, we’ve focused first on delivering enteric methane reduction solutions to producers. If the entire U.S. dairy industry leveraged this intervention, it would avoid 4.7 million metric tons of CO2e emissions annually from enteric, feed and manure emissions. This is a game changer for value creation throughout the food chain, and it’s just the start. Environmental sustainability needs to be grounded in farmer profitability.”

Empowering the Value Chain for Sustainable Impact
In the quest for a greener future, food companies and retailers have collectively pledged to reduce over 100 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. While corporate target-setting has made strides, addressing Scope 3 emissions—often stemming from raw material production like milk—remains a formidable challenge.

Enter Athian’s innovative insetting livestock carbon credit marketplace. This groundbreaking initiative allows companies within the animal protein value chain to take meaningful steps toward their Scope 3 greenhouse gas reduction goals. By participating in this transformative marketplace, they contribute not only to their own sustainability objectives but also to a more environmentally conscious world.

Athian and Elanco are actively engaged in the Reuters Transform Food USA 2023 event on Thursday, November 2, 2023, where they will delve deeper into this transformative journey.

And here’s the exciting part: enteric methane reduction carbon credits are now up for grabs through Athian’s insetting carbon marketplace. Let’s turn emissions into opportunities!