Acambis's Universal Influenza Vaccine Enters Phase 1 Trial

Acambis plc (Cambridge, UK, www.acambis.com) has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of its universal influenza vaccine candidate, ACAM-FLU-A. ACAM-FLU-A is designed to be a universal vaccine candidate targeting all ‘A’ strains of the influenza virus. As such, it has the potential to be both a universal pandemic influenza vaccine and part of a universal seasonal vaccine. Historically, influenza pandemics have been caused by ‘A’ strains of the virus, while seasonal vaccines target both ‘A’ and ‘B’ strains of the virus. ACAM-FLU-A is the first vaccine candidate being developed under Acambis’s influenza program.