Acambis, Baxter oppose European MVA patent for smallpox

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., May 19 - Acambis plc said it has filed an opposition to European Patent No. 1 335 987 issued in December to Bavarian Nordic A/S related to its MVA (Modified Vaccinia Ankara) technology, MVA-BN, an attenuated smallpox vaccine used in Europe.

Baxter Healthcare SA, which manufactures Acambis' MVA3000 vaccine, has also filed an opposition to the European patent on the grounds that the patent is invalid, according to a company news release.

"We strongly believe that the patent awarded to Bavarian Nordic in Europe is invalid," Acambis chief executive officer Gordon Cameron said in the release.

"This belief is supported by evidence presented at the International Trade Commission hearing held over the last two weeks in relation to Bavarian Nordic's U.S. patent for MVA-BN."

Based in Cambridge, U.K., Acambis develops vaccines to prevent and treat infectious diseases including smallpox.

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