Acambis Announces Pandemic Flu Vaccine and Universal Vaccine in Early Stage Pre-Clinical Trials

Strategic Insights -

Acambis, a vaccine maker listed on the London Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, is poised to announce the completion of its pandemic flu vaccine, which is ready to enter clinical trials on Tuesday. The company will showcase this product, along with its third-quarter results, as part of a research and development day. The pandemic vaccine is designed to be effective against all strains of flu during a pandemic, including the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus. Additionally, Acambis is developing a revolutionary "universal" flu vaccine in early stage pre-clinical trials, which has the potential to eliminate the need for annual flu shots.

Key Takeaways:

  • Acambis's pandemic flu vaccine is ready to enter clinical trials, with the potential to be effective against all strains of flu during a pandemic.
  • The universal flu vaccine is in early stage pre-clinical trials and has the potential to eliminate the need for annual flu shots.
  • The pandemic vaccine will be manufactured using new technology, which removes the need for traditional egg-based production methods, saving time and cost.
  • Companies, such as Roche and GlaxoSmithKline, are racing to find treatments and vaccines for bird flu before it jumps the species barrier to humans.
  • The UK plans to build a stockpile of influenza drugs, which will likely include Tamiflu and Relenza, developed by Roche and GlaxoSmithKline, respectively.
  • The World Health Organisation has announced plans for a $1bn fund to root out bird flu before it starts an epidemic.
  • Acambis is also developing a vaccine for Japanese encephalitis, which is in late stage clinical trials, and jabs for West Nile disease and Clostridium difficile.
  • Acambis has a contract with the US government to develop a vaccine against the West Nile virus, which is a mosquito-borne disease that causes encephalitis in humans and animals.

Statistics:

  • Up to 30 million people died in the Spanish flu pandemic after World War I.
  • The current bird flu strain first appeared in Asia in the late 1990s and has been spreading westwards.
  • Influenza vaccines need to be changed, generally each year, to cope with mutations.
  • The Acambis universal vaccine would eliminate the need for annual flu shots by modifying vaccine formulations.
  • Acambis will showcase updates on its vaccine for Japanese encephalitis, in late stage clinical trials, and on its jabs for West Nile disease and Clostridium difficile, a MRSA type hospital superbug.

Sources:

  • Tracey Boles, Chief Reporter, The Business, London, Nov. 13, 2005
  • The Business, London, Nov. 13, 2005
  • World Health Organisation, plans for a $1bn fund to root out bird flu before it starts an epidemic.