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 September, 2006
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:
ACAM2000 Order
CDC agrees to place $30m order for Acambis' ACAM2000 smallpox vaccine
Cambridge, UK and Cambridge, Massachusetts - 13 September 2006 - Acambis plc
(Acambis) (LSE: ACM, NASDAQ: ACAM) announces that it has reached agreement with
the US Government that it will order a further 10 million doses of ACAM2000. The
order is worth approximately $30m.
Under this new order, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
has agreed to procure an additional 10 million doses under the existing ACAM2000
supply contract, under which Acambis produced and delivered 182.5 million doses
of ACAM2000 for the US's Strategic National Stockpile. Acambis expects to supply
the new 10 million-dose order from its existing vaccine inventory in 2006.
In addition, advanced negotiations are continuing to finalise the long-term
warm-base manufacturing contract, which is expected to be awarded following
licensure of ACAM2000. A Biologics License Application (BLA) for ACAM2000 is
currently being reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A "First
Action Due Date" of 14 February 2007 has been set by the FDA.
The aim of the warm-base manufacturing programme is to provide the US with
access to ACAM2000 smallpox vaccine production capability entirely in the US. To
achieve this, all stages of the bulk production process are being transferred to
Acambis' Canton, MA facility, and lyophilisation and fill/finish activities will
take place at Acambis' Rockville, MD facility. Following the CDC's agreement to
place the new $30m order, Acambis is initiating warm-base manufacturing
activities.
Gordon Cameron, Chief Executive Officer of Acambis, commented:
"This agreement from the CDC clearly demonstrates the US Government's commitment
to ACAM2000 warm-base manufacturing for the long term. Through this order, we
can immediately start activities to bring ACAM2000 production entirely in the
US. We look forward to securing a long-term warm-base manufacturing contract
shortly after the expected licensure of ACAM2000 in early 2007."
-ends
Enquiries:
Acambis plc:
Gordon Cameron, Chief Executive Officer
David Lawrence, Chief Financial Officer
Lyndsay Wright, VP, Communications and IR
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 275 300
Financial Dynamics
David Yates/Anna Keeble
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7831 3113
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' US-based subsidiary Berna Products
Corporation markets Vivotif(R), the world's only licensed oral typhoid vaccine,
in North America. Acambis' investigational vaccine against Japanese
encephalitis, ChimeriVax-JE, is undergoing Phase 3 clinical testing. It also has
the most advanced investigational vaccine against the West Nile virus, which has
spread to 48 US States since 1999, and a vaccine against Clostridium difficile
bacteria, a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections.
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 2005 Annual Report and "Risk factors" in its Form 20-F, 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: 13 September, 2006 ACAMBIS PLC
By: /s/ Lyndsay Wright
Name: Lyndsay Wright
Title: VP, Communications and IR.