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 May 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:
'Opposition to MVA Patent'
Acambis and Baxter file oppositions to European MVA patent
Cambridge, UK and Cambridge, Massachusetts - 19 May 2006 - Acambis plc (Acambis)
(LSE: ACM, NASDAQ: ACAM) announces that it has filed an opposition to European
Patent No. 1 335 987 issued to Bavarian Nordic A/S (Bavarian Nordic) on 28
December 2005 by the European Patent Office.
The patent relates to Bavarian Nordic's MVA technology, MVA-BN(R). MVA is an
attenuated smallpox vaccine, Modified Vaccinia Ankara, that has been used in
Europe since the late 1970s. Acambis opposes the patent on the grounds that the
patent is invalid. Acambis' partner, Baxter Healthcare SA, which manufactures
Acambis' MVA vaccine, MVA3000, in Austria, has also filed an opposition to the
European patent on the grounds that the patent is invalid.
Acambis is bidding for a US Government contract to supply an emergency-use
stockpile of MVA.
Gordon Cameron, Chief Executive Officer of Acambis, commented:
"We strongly believe that the patent awarded to Bavarian Nordic in Europe is
invalid. This belief is supported by evidence presented at the International
Trade Commission hearing held over the last two weeks in relation to Bavarian
Nordic's US patent for MVA-BN(R). Filing this opposition is part of our strategy
vigorously to defend our freedom to operate in the MVA field, which we will
defend in whatever forum necessary."
-ends-
Enquiries:
Acambis plc
Gordon Cameron, Chief Executive Officer: Tel +1 (617) 761 4200
David Lawrence, Chief Financial Officer: Tel: +44 (0) 1223 275 300
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 in the last seven years, 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 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: 19 May 2006 ACAMBIS PLC
By: /s/ Lyndsay Wright
Name: Lyndsay Wright
Title: VP, Communications and IR.