Vets Are Using Self Amplifying MRNA Injections on Pets
Wed 6:45 am +00:00, 20 Aug 2025AI. Self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) injections are being used by veterinarians for certain animal vaccines. The Nobivac NXT Canine Flu and Nobivac NXT FeLV vaccines, developed by Merck Animal Health, utilize a self-amplifying mRNA platform that codes for antigens from the canine influenza or feline leukemia virus, respectively. This technology includes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase derived from a Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, which amplifies the mRNA within dendritic cells to produce a stronger immune response.
These vaccines have been approved and are available for use in dogs and cats. The approval process for these veterinary saRNA vaccines has occurred without public disclosure of long-term safety data, and the safety studies conducted were reportedly limited to a 14-day period. Critics have raised concerns about the lack of long-term safety testing, the potential for product shedding from vaccinated animals to humans, and the absence of public warnings. The saRNA technology is also being explored for other animal diseases, and its application in veterinary medicine is considered a significant development in the field.
While saRNA vaccines have been approved for human use in Japan for COVID-19, the deployment of this experimental platform in animals has proceeded with less public scrutiny. The use of saRNA in veterinary medicine represents a new frontier, but it also brings ongoing safety concerns that require further investigation.
