Acambis signs vaccine deal with Sanofi Aventis; pockets $10m now, potential for much more
Silicon Fen vaccine maker Acambis plc said it has signed an exclusive global collaboration agreement with Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi-Aventis Group, for Acambis' ChimeriVax-West Nile vaccine, the leading West Nile vaccine in development.
Acambis will get $10m upfront this year and is eligible for pre- and post-marketing milestone payments of up to $70m based on product approval and sales in the US.
It would also be entitled to development funding and royalties on net sales of the vaccine. In addition, if the vaccine is eventually registered in other countries, Acambis would be entitled to further milestone payments and royalties.
Acambis will continue with ChimeriVax-West Nile development activities, up to and including the filing of a licence application in the US.
The Cambridge-headquartered group’s share price gained 4.25% to 122.75p on the news. It is now valued at around £132m.
There is no human vaccine for prevention and no specific treatment for West Nile virus-related disease, which is now considered endemic in North America. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified those aged 50 and above as being most at risk of severe West Nile virus-related disease. In the US, there are over 87 million of this age. By early November, 3,265 cases of West Nile disease and 92 deaths have been recorded by the CDC in 42 US States this year.
Acambis CEO Ian Garland (pictured) said: “Having entered into this unique collaboration with one of the world's leading vaccine companies, we intend to be the first to bring a West Nile virus vaccine to market.
“Acambis will conduct the vaccine development, further validating our competence and capabilities in clinical development and vaccine manufacture. This contract is an important step in executing on our financing strategy for the company."
Wayne Pisano, Sanofi Pasteur President and CEO said: "Providing a vaccine against West Nile disease may now be within reach. This candidate vaccine is the most promising in the industry and would help meet a growing public health need."
Acambis is conducting a Phase 2 trial of ChimeriVax-West. Preliminary data from a previous Phase 2 dose-ranging trial have shown that over 98% of subjects seroconverted 28 days after a single vaccination. The safety profile of the vaccine has been shown to be satisfactory. Acambis' West Nile vaccine candidate uses its proprietary ChimeriVax technology, which was developed in association with St Louis University.
West Nile virus is a potentially serious illness. Experts believe it is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the autumn. About one in 150 people infected with West Nile virus will develop severe illness.
13th November 2007
