RNS Number:5463I
Acambis PLC
11 March 2003

Acambis enters into marketing agreement for Cangene's vaccinia immune globulin

Cambridge, UK and Cambridge, Massachusetts - 11 March 2003 - Acambis plc ("
Acambis") (LSE: ACM, NASDAQ: ACAM) announces that it has concluded an agreement
with Cangene Corporation ("Cangene") (TSE: CNJ) to market Cangene's vaccinia
immune globulin ("VIG") product in markets outside North America and Israel.
Cangene and Acambis will work together to supply this important product.

Cangene is currently supplying VIG under contract to the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). VIG is used in treating and preventing most severe
reactions that may be brought on by the administration of smallpox vaccine. VIG
is an antibody product manufactured from human plasma collected from individuals
who have been vaccinated with a smallpox vaccine.  Cangene is conducting
clinical trials in order to apply for US Food and Drug Administration licensure
of the product.

Dr John Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Acambis, said:

"Acambis is already at the forefront of efforts to combat the threat of smallpox
used as a bioterrorist weapon. VIG is a key part of any government programme to
protect against the threat of smallpox and Cangene's VIG perfectly complements
our ACAM2000 smallpox vaccine."

Dr John Langstaff, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cangene Corporation,
commented:

"We are very pleased to expand our working relationship with Acambis and this
agreement builds on the current work of filling Acambis' smallpox vaccine at our
subsidiary Chesapeake Biological Laboratories, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland."



-ends-



Enquiries:


Acambis plc                                                    Cangene Corporation
Dr John Brown, Chief Executive Officer                         Jean Compton, Manager, Investor Relations
Lyndsay Wright, Director of Communications                     Tel: +1 (905) 405 2900
Today: +44 (0) 20 7831 3113
Thereafter: +44 (0) 1223 275 300

Gordon Cameron, Chief Financial Officer
Today: +44 (0) 20 7831 3113
Thereafter: +1 (617) 494 1339

Financial Dynamics
David Yates/Jonathan Birt
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7831 3113

MacDougall BioCommunications
Doug MacDougall/Kari Lampka
Tel: +1 (508) 647 0209





Notes to editors:

Acambis

Acambis is a leading developer of vaccines to prevent and treat infectious
diseases.  Recognised internationally as the leading producer of smallpox
vaccines, Acambis provides governments around the world with the full portfolio
of related smallpox vaccine products required to protect their citizens against
the threat of smallpox virus being used as a bioterrorist weapon. Acambis is
establishing a travel vaccines franchise, including vaccines against yellow
fever, Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever and typhoid. Acambis also has the
most advanced vaccine in development targeting the West Nile virus, which has
spread to over 40 US States in the last three years.

Acambis is based in Cambridge, UK and Cambridge, Massachusetts, US. Its primary
listing is on the London Stock Exchange (ACM) and its shares are listed in the
form of American Depositary Receipts on Nasdaq (ACAM). More information is
available at www.acambis.com.

Cangene

Cangene is one of Canada's largest biotechnology companies. Founded in 1984 in
Mississauga, Cangene is now headquartered in Winnipeg but carries on research
and development activities in both cities. It uses patented manufacturing
processes to produce plasma-derived and recombinant therapeutic proteins. The
Company currently has two approved products, and a significant clinical trial
program including a vaccinia immune globulin (VIG), two products nearing
regulatory submission, and one that has been submitted for FDA review. Cangene
is also expanding its contract research and manufacturing business using its
drug-manufacturing expertise and the resources of Chesapeake Biological
Laboratories, Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary). The Company's
internationally-compliant, ISO 9001-registered manufacturing facilities are
located in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Baltimore, Maryland. Cangene's website,
www.cangene.com, includes product and investor information, including past news
releases. Chesapeake's website is www.cblinc.com.

Smallpox virus

Smallpox - caused by the variola virus - has historically killed more people
than any other infectious disease. In 1980, following a programme of mass
vaccination, the World Health Organization declared the global eradication of
smallpox.

Acambis' smallpox vaccine

Acambis' new smallpox vaccine is based on the same vaccinia virus strain, the
New York City Board of Health strain, that was licensed in the US and used for
routine immunization against smallpox prior to the global eradication of
smallpox in the 1970s. Compared with the first-generation vaccine, Dryvax(R),
improvements have been made both in the development of this vaccine and the
methods by which it is manufactured.

Smallpox vaccination and VIG

The smallpox vaccine is made from a live virus related to smallpox called
vaccinia. The vaccine stimulates the immune system to react against the vaccinia
virus and develop immunity to it. Immunity to vaccinia also provides immunity to
smallpox.  Accordingly, since this is a live viral vaccine, adverse events may
occur.  VIG is used in treating and preventing severe reactions that may be
brought on by the administration of the vaccine.

"Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995:

The statements in this news release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including the
timing and results of clinical trials and other product development and
commercialisation risks, the risks of satisfying the regulatory approval process
in a timely manner, the need for and the availability of additional capital. For
a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties see "Risk factors" in
the Company's Annual Report and Form 20-F for the most recently ended fiscal
year, in addition to those detailed in the Company's filings made with the
Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. These forward-looking
statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by the management of
Acambis and are believed to be reasonable, though are inherently uncertain and
difficult to predict. Actual results or experience could differ materially from
the forward-looking statements.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

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