Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Acambis' C. Difficile vaccine is proceeding according to plan

Cambridge-based vaccine specialist, Acambis has announced its successful identification of a number of vaccine formulations against Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD), that show improved stability profiles compared with material used in previous Phase I trials.

The company said that it will select one of these formulations for the manufacture of clinical trial material to be conducted during 2008, with plans to initiate a proof-of-concept trial of its vaccine towards the end of the year.

Acambis said that we can expect further details on the trials and the overall development path for its C. difficile vaccine at an R&D day planned for early in the second quarter of next year.

C. difficile infection is the most common cause of hospital-acquired diarrhoea in the developed world, creating estimated annual costs to the US and European healthcare systems of more than £2.5bn.

"C. difficile-associated disease is a major public health problem and Acambis has the only vaccine in development," said executive VP of R&D at Acambis, Dr Michael Watson.

"We have previously shown that this vaccine can achieve seroconversion rates of up to 100 per cent and, with our formulation work now completed, we are focused on getting our vaccine to proof-of-concept as quickly as possible."

Acambis' vaccine was highlighted in a recent study in which leading experts identified vaccination as the most logical option for combating CDAD.