September 14, 2016
Pharmacosmos hosted its first ever U.S. Uniferon®
Iron Deficiency Anaemia Summit Conference from August 17-19, 2016
at Holbaek, Denmark. Attending the event was a highly
qualified and distinguished group of U.S swine veterinrians and
representatives from our Uniferon® distribution partners
in the U.S veterinary market.
A variety of topics were covered during the meeting, all of
which led to impactful dialogue between U.S. attendees and Danish
swine experts. While visiting a Danish sow farm, participants
engaged in open and candid discussions with the farm manager, the
employees and a swine veterinarian. Many ideas and
differences between Danish and U.S. pig production and management
procedures were shared among the participants,
with numerous best-practices taken away by all. The sow-farm visit
allowed the group to participate in a practical,
on-site iron deficiency anaemia investigation in which a
comprehensive evaluation of iron injection techniques were
presented; secondary iron dosages were discussed and determined;
and the prevalence of sub-clinical and full-scale iron deficiencey
anaemia observations in a production environment were made
using pen-side hemoglobin blood level determinations.
The hands-on session was followed by an in-depth review of the
causes and consequences of sub-clinical and full-scale iron
deficiency anaemia in piglets from a theoretical perspective.
Professor Jens Peter Nielsen from the University of
Copenhagen, provided an update on research, which
indicates there is solid scientific evidence that a boost in
hemoglobin to optimal blood levels increases average daily
gain in piglets from farrowing to finishing. Optimal blood
levels of hemoglobin can be achieved in piglets on an all-milk diet
with the use of a second injection of Uniferon® iron
dextran. As part of the sub-clinical and full-scale iron
defficiency anaemia conversation, a tour of the Pharmacosmos
manufacturing facility was conducted, whereby
participants learned that the Uniferon® injectable iron
products are unique in that Pharmacosmos applies the same
high-quality standards to the production of its veterinary iron as
it does to the production of its human iron
products, while strictly avoiding the use of
organic solvents and cyanide in the manufacture and processing
thereof. In short, there are simply no potentially harmful
residual organic solvents or cyanide impurities to be found in, or
dealt with in the usage of Uniferon® injectable iron
products!
Other topics covered during the meeting included the Danish pig
production experience with reduced antibiotic usage, and increased
weaning age of the piglets. Both topics were accompanied by
productive discussions among the group regarding the challenges and
potential benefits such changes could bring to U.S. swine
production. The candid discussions of the group proved
to be a valuable benefit to the meeting as attendees and local
experts had an opportinity to learn from each others experiences on
all topics discussed during the Uniferon® Iron
Deficiency Anaemia Summit Conference.
About Uniferon
Uniferon is a modern improved iron hydrogenated dextran based on
a natural formula, which is approved for global use:
Uniferon is manufactured without the use of any organic solvents
or cyanide, thus, avoiding trace residues of these impurities.
Pharmacosmos manufactures iron dextran of high quality and unique
purity for customers worldwide. Uniferon is the only injectable
iron brand for piglets approved in the EU, the US and Asia.
About Pharmacosmos
Headquartered in Denmark, Pharmacosmos is a family-owned,
international healthcare company with more than 50 years of
innovation and leadership in iron- and carbohydrate-based
treatments and solutions for human and animal use.
A research-based company, its ongoing R&D programme focuses
on improving the lives of patients with iron deficiency with or
without anaemia. More than 1 billion people live with iron
deficiency anaemia and it is the leading cause of death for an
estimated 180,000 people every year. This makes it one of the
largest global health challenges of our time.
Pharmacosmos has subsidiaries in the Nordics, the UK and the US
and its products are marketed in more than 80 countries across the
world. Its manufacturing facilities are approved, among others, by
the Danish Medicines Agency and the US FDA.