FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13s - 16 or 15d - 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of December 2005
Acambis plc
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
Peterhouse Technology Park
100 Fulbourn Road
Cambridge CB1 9PT
England
(address of principal executive offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Forms 20-F X Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
Yes No X
(if "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ).
Enclosure:
Research Update
Acambis becomes first company to enter Phase II testing of vaccine against West
Nile virus
Cambridge, UK and Cambridge, Massachusetts - 20 December 2005 - Acambis plc
("Acambis") (LSE: ACM, NASDAQ: ACAM) announces that it has started a Phase II
clinical trial of its investigational vaccine against the West Nile virus,
ChimeriVax(TM)-West Nile, in healthy adult subjects. Acambis is the first
company to enter a Phase II trial of a West Nile vaccine.
The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II trial is being
conducted in more than 200 subjects in the US. The safety, tolerability and
immunogenicity of Acambis' West Nile virus vaccine at different dose levels will
be evaluated first in healthy young adults and the optimal dose will
subsequently be tested in healthy elderly subjects.
So far, the 2005 West Nile virus season in the US has seen 2,775 cases and 98
deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all
residents in areas where West Nile virus activity has been identified are at
risk of getting West Nile encephalitis but people over 50 are at the greatest
risk of severe disease.
Dr Thomas Monath, Chief Scientific Officer of Acambis and a recognised expert in
the field of flaviviruses, such as West Nile, commented:
"West Nile virus is firmly established as an endemic disease in the US and we
expect a pattern of recurring epidemic years to continue. A vaccine can be a
critical part of West Nile disease prevention and epidemic control and Acambis
aims, with ChimeriVax-West Nile, to provide a single-dose vaccine to meet this
need. We are excited to progress the vaccine into the next stage of development
and to continue on track with this programme."
There is currently no human vaccine for prevention and no specific treatment for
West Nile disease. Efforts to reduce the incidence of infection revolve around
preventive measures to protect against mosquito bites, the cause of nearly all
human infections of the virus.
In a Phase I safety and immunogenicity trial of Acambis' West Nile virus
vaccine, of the subjects who received ChimeriVax-West Nile, 96% in the high-dose
group and 100% in the low-dose group developed high titres of West
Nile-neutralising antibodies 28 days after vaccination.
-ends-
Enquiries:
Acambis:
Gordon Cameron, Chief Executive Officer
David Lawrence, Chief Financial Officer
Lyndsay Wright, VP, Communications and Investor Relations
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 275 300
Financial Dynamics:
David Yates/Davina Langdale
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7831 3113
Notes to editors:
West Nile virus
While the majority of West Nile infections are mild and do not result in any
symptoms, it is estimated that 20% of those infected develop mild symptoms such
as fever, headache, body aches and swollen glands. West Nile encephalitis, the
more severe form of the infection, is estimated to occur in one out of every 150
of those infected. Symptoms include high fever, neck stiffness, stupor,
convulsions, coma and sometimes paralysis. Death can occur in the most severe
cases when the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier, leading to encephalitis or
inflammation of the brain.
ChimeriVax-West Nile
Development of Acambis' investigational vaccine, ChimeriVax-West Nile, was
supported by a $3m grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Acambis is developing the ChimeriVax-West Nile vaccine using its proprietary
ChimeriVax technology, which is also the basis for Acambis' vaccine candidates
against Japanese encephalitis (Phase III trials ongoing) and dengue (completed
Phase I trial).
About Acambis
Acambis is a leading developer of vaccines to prevent and treat infectious
diseases. Recognised internationally as the leading producer of smallpox
vaccines, Acambis is developing an investigational smallpox vaccine, ACAM2000,
and is manufacturing emergency-use stockpiles of this investigational vaccine
for the US Government and other governments around the world. It is also
developing an attenuated smallpox vaccine, MVA3000, under contracts with the US
National Institutes of Health. Acambis is establishing a travel vaccines
franchise through its US-based subsidiary Berna Products Corporation, which
markets Vivotif(R), the world's only licensed oral typhoid vaccine, in North
America. Acambis has other potential travel vaccines in development and is also
developing an investigational vaccine against the West Nile virus, which has
spread to 48 US States in the last six years.
Acambis is based in Cambridge, UK and Cambridge, Massachusetts, US. Its primary
listing is on the London Stock Exchange (ACM) and its shares are listed in the
form of American Depositary Receipts on NASDAQ (ACAM). More information is
available at www.acambis.com.
"Safe Harbor' statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995:
The statements in this news release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including the
timing and results of clinical trials, product development, manufacturing and
commercialisation risks, the risks of satisfying the regulatory approval process
in a timely manner, the need for and the availability of additional capital. For
a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties see "Risk management" in
the Company's 2004 Annual Report and Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December
2004, in addition to those detailed on the Company's website and in the
Company's filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to
time. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions
made by the management of Acambis and are believed to be reasonable, though are
inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Actual results or experience
could differ materially from the forward-looking statements.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant Peptide Therapeutics Group has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: 20 December, 2005 ACAMBIS PLC
By: /s/ Lyndsay Wright
Name: Lyndsay Wright
Title: VP, Communications and IR.