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 January 2007
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:
Acambis appoints Head of R&D
Acambis appoints Dr Michael Watson to head Research and Development activities
Cambridge, UK and Cambridge, Massachusetts - 19 January 2007 - Acambis plc
(Acambis) (LSE: ACM) announces the appointment of Michael Watson as Executive
Vice President, Research and Development (R&D) and an Executive Director of the
Board.
Dr Watson, 42, joins Acambis from sanofi pasteur MSD where he is Executive
Director-Clinical and Epidemiology, Europe. He is a clinician with extensive
experience of vaccine development and registration, and has spent the last 10
years working with sanofi pasteur. In his current role, Dr Watson is responsible
for development, strategic planning and implementation of Phase III, Phase IV
and epidemiology studies covering more than 15 vaccines developed by sanofi
pasteur and Merck & Co. He is also the European Project Leader for Gardasil(R),
the Human Papillomavirus vaccine developed by Merck & Co.
Previously, Dr Watson was responsible for clinical and pre-clinical development
activities for Takeda Europe Pharmaceuticals and Bristol-Myers Squibb, which he
joined after obtaining his medical degree from the University of Birmingham and
completing five years of training in internal medicine, infectious disease and
tropical medicine at various UK hospitals.
At Acambis, Dr Watson will head all R&D activities, and will oversee the vaccine
product portfolio, including enhancing the portfolio through in-house R&D and/or
licensing of product candidates. He is expected to join Acambis in the next few
weeks and will be based in Acambis' US offices in Cambridge, MA, where the R&D
functions are located.
Peter Fellner, Chairman of Acambis, commented:
"We are delighted that Michael has agreed to lead our R&D efforts. His
experience will be invaluable to the effective management and integration of our
research, development, clinical and medical affairs activities. Michael brings
to Acambis both a clear understanding of what it takes to get a vaccine through
to licensure and a strategic understanding of how to manage a product portfolio.
I am confident that he will provide strong leadership, and will successfully
manage and advance our pipeline."
Dr Watson commented on his appointment:
"Now is a particularly exciting time in the vaccines field, so I am delighted to
be joining Acambis at a pivotal stage in its growth and development. I believe
Acambis has some great opportunities in its pipeline and I look forward to
applying my existing expertise and working with the Acambis' Board and
management team to drive forward and develop its portfolio."
Dr Watson is the author of many scientific publications, is an Associate Editor
of two leading vaccine-related journals, Journal of Clinical Virology and Human
Vaccines, and represents sanofi pasteur MSD on the European Vaccine
Manufacturers' Clinical Group.
Acambis confirms that no information is disclosable in relation to the
appointment of Dr Watson pursuant to the requirements of Listing Rule 9.6.13
paragraphs (1) to (6).
-ends-
Enquiries:
Acambis plc:
Peter Fellner, Chairman
Tel: +44 (0) 118 989 9312
Gordon Cameron, Chief Executive Officer
David Lawrence, Chief Financial Officer
Lyndsay Wright, VP, Communications and IR
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 275 300
Brunswick
Jon Coles / Justine McIlroy / Margherita Lupi
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7404 5959
About Acambis
Acambis is a leading biotechnology company targeting infectious diseases with
novel vaccines. Acambis' development-stage pipeline includes vaccines that could
either offer improvements over existing products or target unmet medical needs.
As well as ChimeriVax-JE, Acambis' proprietary ChimeriVax technology, developed
in association with St Louis University, has also been used to develop
ChimeriVax-West Nile, which is undergoing Phase 2 clinical testing, making it
the most advanced investigational vaccine against the West Nile virus. Acambis
also has the only vaccine in development against Clostridium difficile bacteria,
a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. 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.
Acambis is based in Cambridge, UK and Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, and is
listed on the London Stock Exchange (ACM). 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: 19 January 2007 ACAMBIS PLC
By: /s/ Lyndsay Wright
Name: Lyndsay Wright
Title: VP, Communications and IR.