ACAMBIS (ACAM) develops preventive vaccines against infectious diseases. The U.S. government has contracted with Acambis since 2001 to build its stockpile of smallpox vaccines (ACAM2000) out of concerns about bio-terrorism.

Acambis has also developed Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine, a more attenuated form of the vaccine for people with compromised immune systems. Acambis' smallpox vaccines are still investigational. Together with its partner, Baxter International Inc., the company is a bidder on a major contract to supply the United States Government with doses of its MVA3000 attenuated smallpox vaccine. This vaccine is for the portion of the population that could suffer adverse reactions to smallpox vaccines such as, for example, ACAM2000.

In October 2006, Acambis sold its Berna Products Corporation business to Crucell N.V. Acambis is also pursuing other product lines including vaccines against Japanese encephalitis, West Nile virus, and influenza. www.acambis.com