2002 - Acambis

What a game-changing company Acambis was – and one that came to the forefront at a time of incredible global political flux due to the emerging threat of bioterrorism. Then headquartered in Cambridge, Acambis targeted infectious diseases with novel vaccines. Its smallpox vaccine, ACAM2000, was hired for emergency-use stockpiles held by the US Government and several other governments around the world. The UK government preferred to place its order with a Tony Blair backer and Labour Party donor – but Business Weekly wasn’t fooled. Acambis moved out of Cambridge in 2008 after being acquired by Sanofi Pasteur for $565m.