FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13s - 16 or 15d - 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of March, 2007
Acambis plc
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
Peterhouse Technology Park
100 Fulbourn Road
Cambridge CB1 9PT
England
(address of principal executive offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Forms 20-F X Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
Yes No X
(if "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ).
Enclosure:
Acambis New Management Team
Acambis announces appointment of new Chief Executive Officer and other senior
management changes
Cambridge, UK and Cambridge, Massachusetts - 7 March 2007 - Acambis plc
("Acambis") (LSE: ACM) announces changes to its senior executive management
team.
Ian Garland, 41, is appointed as Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 June
2007. He replaces Gordon Cameron who has served as CEO since 2004. Mr Cameron
will remain in his current position to ensure a smooth transition until Ian
Garland's arrival. In addition, David Lawrence, Chief Financial Officer will
leave the employment of the Company with immediate effect. He will be replaced
by Elizabeth Brown as acting CFO.
- Since 2004, Ian Garland has been CFO of Arrow Therapeutics Ltd
("Arrow"), a company engaged in the discovery and development of novel
anti-viral products. He recently oversaw its acquisition by AstraZeneca plc
for $150 million, which was completed on 28 February 2007. Previously, in
June 2005, Arrow concluded a major R&D collaboration with Novartis.
From 1999 to 2003, Ian was President and Chief Operating Officer of Celltech
Pharmaceuticals Inc., which had a turnover of around $300 million and
approximately 1,000 employees, encompassing the US operations of Celltech
Group plc. He was responsible for all US activities, including marketing,
manufacturing and supply chain management, and US-based development and
support functions. During this time, he achieved significant US sales and
earnings growth, the approval of two US New Drug Applications, and the
divestment of several non-core businesses.
For much of this period he reported directly to Peter Fellner, then CEO of
Celltech, and now Chairman of Acambis.
Between 1995 and 1999 Ian had finance roles at Medeva plc, which was
subsequently acquired by Celltech, and at Pepsi Cola, Inc. based in the US.
From 1988 to 1995 he worked at KPMG, specialising in the pharmaceutical
sector, following qualification as a Chartered Accountant.
- Elizabeth Brown, 35, currently Vice President of Financial Management
and Company Secretary, is appointed as acting CFO, reporting to the CEO,
with immediate effect. She has served with Acambis for more than ten years
and held her current role for the last two years. She has been responsible
for all financial management and control within the Company and for
long-term financial planning. She qualified as a Certified Accountant in
1997.
Gordon Cameron joined Acambis in 1996, serving initially as CFO, and as CEO for
the last three years. He has overseen substantial advances in the Company's
business and operations, including the successful implementation of major US
government biodefence contracts, underpinning the development of Acambis.
David Lawrence joined Acambis as CFO from Chiron Vaccines in August 2004. The
Board thanks both Gordon Cameron and David Lawrence for their important
contributions during the past few years, and wishes them every success in their
future careers.
Peter Fellner, Chairman, commented:
"The Board and I are very pleased to welcome someone of Ian Garland's calibre,
experience and strategic abilities as our CEO at Acambis. Ian and I worked
closely together at Celltech for several years and his extensive US experience
will be very valuable given that the majority of the Acambis' operations are
based there.
"Ian's forthcoming appointment, together with the recent appointment of Dr
Michael Watson from sanofi pasteur MSD as the new Executive Vice President,
Research & Development, and that of Elizabeth Brown as acting CFO, create a new
top management team at Acambis as we embark upon the next growth phase of the
Company."
In parallel the Company is undertaking a substantial reorganisation in order to
focus its resources on its key programmes and operational capabilities, and to
reduce its cost base. This is summarised in the accompanying announcement.
Acambis confirms that no information is disclosable in relation to the
appointment of Mr Garland pursuant to the requirements of Listing Rule 9.6.13
paragraphs (1) to (6).
-ends-
Enquiries:
Acambis plc
Dr Peter Fellner, Chairman
Tel: +44 (0) 118 989 9312
Lyndsay Wright, VP, Communications and IR
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 275 300
Brunswick
Jon Coles / Justine McIlroy / Margherita Lupi
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7404 5959
About Acambis
Acambis is a leading biotechnology company targeting infectious diseases with
novel vaccines. Acambis' development-stage pipeline includes vaccines that could
either offer improvements over existing products or target unmet medical needs.
As well as ChimeriVax-JE, Acambis' proprietary ChimeriVax technology, developed
in association with St Louis University, has also been used to develop
ChimeriVax-West Nile, which is undergoing Phase 2 clinical testing, making it
the most advanced investigational vaccine against the West Nile virus. Acambis
also has the only vaccine in development against Clostridium difficile bacteria,
a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. Recognised internationally as
the leading producer of smallpox vaccines, Acambis is developing an
investigational smallpox vaccine, ACAM2000, and is manufacturing emergency-use
stockpiles of this investigational vaccine for the US Government and other
governments around the world.
Acambis is based in Cambridge, UK and Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, and is
listed on the London Stock Exchange (ACM). More information is available at
www.acambis.com.
"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, product development, manufacturing 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 management" in
the Company's 2005 Annual Report and "Risk factors" in its Form 20-F, in
addition to those detailed on the Company's website and 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.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant Peptide Therapeutics Group has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: 07 March, 2007 ACAMBIS PLC
By: /s/ Lyndsay Wright
Name: Lyndsay Wright
Title: VP, Communications and IR.