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 October 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:
Re: Proposal to the DHHS
Acambis submits proposal to supply a stockpile of MVA smallpox vaccine to the US
Government
Cambridge, UK and Cambridge, Massachusetts - 4 October 2005 - Acambis plc
(Acambis) (LSE: ACM, NASDAQ: ACAM) announces today that it has submitted a
proposal to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for the
manufacture and delivery of doses of its investigational MVA attenuated smallpox
vaccine, MVA3000. The proposal is in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP)
issued by the DHHS on 16 August 2005 for the procurement of 20 million doses of
MVA and was submitted within the revised 3 October 2005 deadline.
MVA vaccines are a weakened form of smallpox vaccine. MVA3000 is being developed
for use in people for whom the traditional smallpox vaccine is contraindicated,
such as patients with disorders of the immune system or skin conditions,
especially eczema. Acambis is co-developing MVA3000 with Baxter Healthcare SA ("
Baxter"), which is providing process development and manufacturing services.
In addition to seeking manufacture of up to 20 million doses of MVA attenuated
smallpox vaccine, the RFP requires advanced clinical testing up to and including
obtaining a product license for MVA. It also includes options for the Government
to purchase up to 60 million additional doses of MVA and "warm-base"
manufacturing over the longer term. The US Government has indicated that
contract award(s) will be made in February 2006.
Acambis' Chief Executive Officer Gordon Cameron commented:
"I am pleased to report that we have submitted our proposal within the RFP's
deadline. Our proposal takes into account our considerable experience in this
area, including our success at winning and delivering on a US Government
contract for more than 180 million doses of our investigational ACAM2000
smallpox vaccine. Additionally, our partnership with Baxter, which brings
experience of manufacturing to commercial scale, puts us in a very strong
position to meet the US Government's needs."
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
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.
About Acambis' NIAID contracts for MVA3000
Acambis has been awarded two contracts by the NIAID for the manufacture and
development of its MVA smallpox vaccine, MVA3000. The first contract, awarded in
February 2003, was for $9.2m. The second, awarded in September 2004, consists of
a $76m core component requiring clinical testing and manufacture of 500,000
doses of MVA3000, and an optional element worth $55m that has not been exercised
for the manufacture of a further 2.5 million doses of MVA3000.
"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 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: 04 October 2005 ACAMBIS PLC
By: /s/ Lyndsay Wright
Name: Lyndsay Wright
Title: Director of Communications