Unique veterinary antibiotics-free drug developed in Belarus

During his visit to the Belarusian State University in late August, the Head of State was shown a unique development: veterinary drugs that make it possible to exclude or significantly reduce the use of antibiotics in treatment of animals. Maksim Potapovich – who heads the research biotechnology laboratory – explained how the medicine works.

“We make an injection with the animal's own protein,” the scientist said. “If a cow or a dog gets sick, pathological processes start developing in the body, and the first symptoms appear. It usually takes 3-4 days to produce a protective protein that will fight the pathogen. Our drug is just aimed at reducing this time to a minimum and introducing protein faster, which will defeat the disease. Simply speaking, it is an auto-vaccination: the animal copes with the disease by itself.”

One of the common diseases among cows is mastitis. Almost one hundred percent of the drugs available contain antibiotics. Accordingly, the process of milking is stopped for a while, and this results in lower yields. The BSU has created its Submastin-KRS drug, which is injected intramuscularly and has not antibiotics in its formulae. Accordingly, the treatment period halves, the grade of milk increases and it becomes eco-friendlier.

“Such protein will definitely cause a more correct immune response and will not produce complications,” Mr. Potapovich added. “This drug has no analogues in Belarus and in the world. The development – including the extraction of the substance, bottling and shipping for sale – is fully domestic.”