Acambis Seeks Funds for Smallpox Vaccine Readiness

British drug maker Acambis is seeking $30 million from the United States to ensure its Massachusetts manufacturing facility is ready to produce smallpox vaccine during an emergency, the Boston Globe reported today (see GSN, Jan. 5).

The company has already prepared 182.5 million vaccine doses for the U.S. stockpile, enough to cover the country.

Now, however, there is not enough demand to keep the production line operating, the company said. Acambis argues that uncertainty on the vaccine’s lifespan and possible need in other countries requires the company to be able to quickly resume production.

“Even if you have a stockpile of 200,000 bullets, if you go to war, you would need more bullets. This is the same idea,” said Gordon Cameron, Acambis chief executive.

The Health and Human Services Department expects to make a decision this summer on the request, the Globe reported (Ross Kerber, Boston Globe, May 6).

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